The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) is ramping up efforts to combat rising substance use in Kenya, especially among the youth. Through the newly approved National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025), the Authority is set to implement stricter regulations on the sale, promotion, and consumption of alcohol and drugs.
Approved by the Cabinet on June 24, the policy introduces a comprehensive framework that includes:
- A ban on the sale of alcohol near schools and places of worship.
- Strict age verification to restrict alcohol sales to individuals above 21 years.
- A zero-tolerance stance on irresponsible marketing of alcohol and drugs.
- Enhanced protections for individuals choosing to abstain from substance use.
- Special safeguards for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable populations.
This aggressive policy shift follows alarming findings from NACADA’s February 2025 report titled Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya. The study, which surveyed 15,678 undergraduate students across public and private universities, revealed that:
- 87.3% of university students consume alcohol.
- 64.4% use cigarettes, and 41.2% use shisha.
- A significant majority obtain substances from friends (66.4%) and local canteens and bars (59.3%).
To support the new policy, NACADA is deepening its partnerships with communities and faith-based organizations to boost awareness and prevention programs nationwide. The Authority believes that a unified, society-wide approach is critical to reversing the dangerous trend of youth substance use in Kenya.
