Addressing emerging drugs and substance abuse among university students in Kenya

Abstract

The availability and accessibility of emerging drugs including cannabis edibles, vaping products, and prescription opioids among Kenyan university students have reached alarming levels. The study on the status of drugs and substance abuse among university students in Kenya explored the students’ perception on availability and accessibility of emerging trends. Findings revealed that 47.6% of students can access cannabis edibles, while 61.7% reported that smoked cannabis was readily available. Alcohol (87.3%) and cigarettes (64.4%) were the most accessible substances, but emerging trends in the abuse of morphine and nicotine pouches (30.7%) are gaining traction.This brief examines the drivers of this crisis, analyzes gaps in current policies, and proposes evidence-based interventions to curb the proliferation of these substances in the institutions of higher learning.