The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has launched a 14-day research project targeting drug dens in the Coast region to find out if there has been an abuse of Fentanyl among drug abusers.
The authority, together with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Government Chemist, the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and Civil society, intends to conduct a research- and analysis-based excursion to examine the increase of substance abuse with specific attention to Fentanyl.
This comes after circulation of content on social media depicting visibly intoxicated individuals reeling from the effects of established substances that the authority is keen to identify and have tested.
Speaking in Mombasa, NACADA Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) John Muteti said that the authority is privy to the presence of an intoxicant that has hit the streets and is in distribution.
Muteti said in collaboration with key stakeholders, they have commenced groundwork, earmarking dens and distribution points in the whole Coast region in a bid to get concrete data on the nature of substances being abused.
“We are conducting a detailed analysis of the situation in the County and the region in general to authenticate a number of issues surrounding usage of an undetermined substance that we were hinted at using through social media,” said Muteti.
He added that officials from NACADA have been on the ground collecting samples that will be processed by the government chemist so as to analyze and come up with conclusive findings.
“Based on the findings from the samples our teams will collect, we shall be able to give a comprehensive report on the nature of the said substances in two weeks,” he added.
Muteti also said that the authority has a 24 hour toll free number, 1192, that can be accessed in the event of a concern.
On his part, Reach-out Centre Trust Director Taib Abdulrahman echoed Muteti’s sentiments, saying that his centre, which plays a key role in rehabilitation of drug and substance users, is playing a part in the efforts to determine concerns surrounding taming usage and treatment, particularly in Mombasa County.
Abdulrahman said that progressive research has shown that poly-substance use has become the new frontier or common practise for many users.
He attributed this to varying aspects, including the availability of certain drugs, cost constraints and potency that users are accustomed to.
“Drug and substance use has morphed over time and we are now seeing the rise of polyuse in many of the cases we handle. Through medical analysis we have determined that many users have resorted to using more than one drug and the effects have been detrimental,” said Abdulrahman.
He added that NACADA’s intervention is timely given the situation has begun to creep in quickly, and the multi-sectoral approach will come in handy to boost efforts not only in research and analysis, but also in sensitization of the community.
In their treatment, he said they have done urine drug screens and so far they have identified heroin, methadone and poly-drug use.
“We want to clarify that the incidents shown on social media do not match our research. We appreciate being part and parcel of this operation, as here we can discuss if there is such a case of fentanyl use and come up with solutions,” he said.
Reach-Out Centre Trust is a non-profit organisation whose main mandate is to provide preventative and treatment services to people with substance use disorders and HIV and AIDS in the Coast region.
By Chari Suche and Andrew Hinga
