Pharmacies have become the new “Peddies” for drug distribution among the Kenyan youth and most unfortunately school-going students, The CEO of the (NACADA) Victor Okioma put announced.
According to Okioma, a survey was conducted by the Alcohol Abuse regulatory and it revealed that there is a high consumption rate of prescription drugs, an ailment that is seeping into learning institutions.
Speaking on Citizen, the CEO noted that the prescription drugs have become a high threat to drug consumption compared to the common drugs Marijuana and Alcohol.
“We have looked at the drug situation in primary schools and the question is where do they get these drugs?” those drugs are not allowed to be issued without prescription from a doctor and what we are asking is how do they access this?” he posed.
“What is obvious is that we have a weakness in the control of our pharmacies because in primary if you check the figures, prescription drugs are more of a problem than these other drugs,”
Mr. Victor noted that curbing the affliction is an difficult task as there are many loopholes through which these drugs seep into learning institutions.
Curbing the Disease
However, the CEO confirmed that they will remain vigilant in controlling the crisis.
“We have had a meeting with the Pharmacists Association and the NCPB who regulate pharmacists and we agree that there is a problem that’s needs to be fixed,” he said.
“These students carry the medication when reporting back to school and no one would suspect that the drugs out there are substances of abuse.” he added
Some of the loopholes, Okiama said are shops near schools that quietly distribute the drugs to student, adding that the risk is even bigger to primary school children since they have fewer restrictions compared to high school students.
“The accessibility is actually more in primary than in secondary because of restrictions but we have had cases where some students are agents of trafficking,” he said.
Okioama also said the kiosks operating close to school are actually very vibrant sources of drugs.
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