#Opinion| The scourge of drugs in Wajir, youth wallowing into extinction-Drug and substance abuse are a menace we should tackle now

In the recent years security agencies have been on the led to fight against smuggling of drugs, they have nabbed tones of bhang worths millions - Wajir is becoming a center of drug dean , each day individuals smuggle in kilograms of bhang most used drug is "cannabis" which is ferried from Ethiopia " shashamane"- with unguarded or unmanned roads which ease the transportation of this commodity.

Wajir's proximity to Moyale and Ethiopia, which it's close and shares border, meaning that it's a major transit route in the lucrative drug smuggling trade,that's one reason.

On across the county,from villages in the lush green countryside to bustling towns , young men huddle together in makeshifts, under trees,cemeteries, abandoned buildings or plain fields, smoking, snorting or shooting up.

making a prompt sneak to Wajir town or even outskirts, villages it's very clear enough everywhere there plenty of drugs - the accessibility of all types of drug from bhang or cannabis, locally made tobacco " Abalateen", kubeer, cocaine, tablets of sorts and syrups . they are openly sold off- miraa bases . 

Also as you Walk into township area beyond those derelict buildings you see heaps of rubbish and reeking of urine. Strewn all around there are used syringes and broken bottles of prescription medicines- clear evidence of how addict our youths are.

Each year  the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is marked to enlighten people the threat of drug abuse - a step that needs more approach.

Today, our collective attitudes are somewhat profoundly different- with obvious powerful and beneficial consequences. Smoking of bhang is becoming a hobby for a section of the youth - worrying trend.

Let's join hands to save our young people from drugs and alcohol.

Despite NACADA getting laws backing in fight against alcohol abuse this is just a tip of an- iceberg because when you see or what I witnessed on what is happening to our youth, time has now come for a fundamental change in attitude for many of us and about the pervasive and pernicious role drug and alcohol abuse play in our county- we should come up a better or strategy to deal with this menace of drug abuse.

increase of drug abuse among our youths is astonishing - for now school going pupils and students are ravaged by drug a report of The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) in 2019 that school-going children are abusing drugs with a title dubbed with  Status of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Primary School Pupils in Kenya, the report shows that 20.2 per cent of primary school pupils have used at least one drug or substance of abuse in their lifetime.

That students mainly get the drugs and substances from school neighborhoods is quite telling. And this leads to other related issues like class repetition and decline in academic performance and indiscipline in schools- violence and mood flactuation - we have seen also children fighting with their parents and teachers.

Why all this huffing and puffing in the current war against drugs and illicit substances not been able to bring sanity  reason the magnitude it has can't be predicted that is why again the consequences of this epidemic are severe and worrying for the future.

The situation worsens, many families continue to suffer as they seek medical attention of their child due to drug abuse- it's paramount for the government to install programs that will help, to set up rehabilitation center to mitigate further addiction among youths - to give counseling, build their mind set - addiction trauma forced some to be compromised mentally - today in Wajir the rate of mentally challenged people are youths, evidence they are hovering around in town.

What is clear now is that it’s about time we recognized that substance abuse and addiction is a disease, not a moral failing or easily abandoned self-indulgence.

Corruption is another challenge that hampers to fight against drug abuse and substance - we must put our patriotic urge ahead not to help or not to be solicited with money- let's think of our country and our next generations.

unless we take bold step to fight collectively against this illicit hard drugs in our county no doubt it will be a bottleneck to our security, moral values, culture, religion and our health - today majority of our youths are turning to be zombies,we seek an urgent concern or address from the security agents to ensure our borders are protected - the most active routes for this drugs dealers and human traffickers are using be zipped completely.

it's time we recognise that it is a complex challenge with neurological, physical, emotional and spiritual components. Also we must accept its impact on the society and how we confront against - giving a leeway of dealing or fighting against drug abuse.

As a county, we can carefully strategies to confront this challenge once we have accepted.

Through legislations (Assembly) to enact by laws to deal with drugs dealers - frying the big fish to counter-combat to seal off the drug chain peddling .

 Also the Wajir municipal to continue their efforts not cracking the illicit brew but going after the bhang smuggler - to establish courts within their jurisdiction further working together with Muslim scholars and Nyumba Kumi initiative - no doubt we Will have a reduction of the menace.

Courses in substance abuse and addiction should be made introduced in our school system for brainstorming our children .

Indeed, it is time to end the denial we have lived with and stamp out the stigma associated with substance abuse and addiction and commit energy and resources to confront this plague. It's a real threat that could maim and kill Wajir youth than any other disaster - we should consider to open a rehabilitation center to aid this youth who have been affectd and their dreams shattered.

Indeed, drug and substance abuse is an enemy that we must face squarely if we want to prepare the future generation. It’s time to reflect soberly on this scourge.

Globally, the number of swayed by drugs is alarming, united Nations, World Drug Report 2019: 35 million people worldwide suffer from drug use disorders while only 1 in 7 people receive treatment-  it's a worldwide cry.

Finally parents too have a role to play to ensure they raise their kids well - love and caring - to monitor and manage best for example to know who they hang with, their friends otherwise the journey to free drugs in our nation needs affirmative actions.

God bless Wajir people.