Ministry raises alarm over rising drug and alcohol abuse among Kenyan teens

The government has issued a fresh warning over the growing crisis of alcohol and drug dependency, identifying Nairobi as the region most affected by the surge in substance abuse.

Current data shows that among young people aged 15 to 24, roughly one in eleven—an estimated 632,000—are actively using at least one drug or substance.

The situation appears even more dire in the 25 to 35 age bracket, where over 1.5 million individuals are reportedly struggling with substance-related issues.

A new report by the Ministry of Health has revealed that alcohol remains the most misused substance in Kenya, followed closely by khat (miraa), tobacco, cannabis, and prescription medications.

The data suggests that in the absence of traditional narcotics, many Kenyans are increasingly turning to pharmacies for alternatives.

According to Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, the rise in drug and substance abuse is being driven by a combination of factors, including peer influence, joblessness, inadequate access to education and mental health support, and the easy availability of illicit drugs in informal markets.

"The psychological impact of substance use is alarming," said Muthoni in a statement released to media houses on Sunday. She noted that the youth, particularly those between the ages of 15 and 35, make up over half of the nation’s drug-using population.

Early exposure to drugs, she warned, is strongly linked to long-term mental health issues, broken families, academic failure, and in severe cases, suicide.

The latest figures show that 5% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are dependent on alcohol. A similar proportion is hooked on cannabis, while 3% and 4% are regular tobacco users and khat chewers, respectively.

Nationally, 11% of Kenyans aged 15 to 65—roughly 3.2 million people—consume alcohol daily, while tobacco use stands at 8.5%, affecting an estimated 2.3 million people.

Alcohol abuse is particularly prevalent in Western, Coast, and Central Kenya.

Tobacco smoking is more widespread in Central, Coast, and Eastern regions.

Among adolescents and young adults, khat chewing is most common among the 15–24 age group, with 2.6% reported to be regular users in 2022.

Cannabis use is also prominent, with 5% of youth in this demographic identified as dependent.

Regionally, Eastern, Northeastern, and Nairobi counties report high cannabis consumption, with 3.6% of the population, or around 964,737 individuals, affected.

In Nairobi, Nyanza, and Coast, approximately 1.9%—equivalent to 518,807 residents—are reported to be cannabis users.