CENTRE TO REHABILITATE JUVENILE DRUG ADDICTS

Nairobi

The Government will establish rehabilitation centres for young drug
addicts, a Minister of State said yesterday.

Mrs Linah Kilimo said the centres will cover treatment, rehabilitation,
social reintegration and management of abstinence.

She said Kenya was progressively becoming an active player in the
international drugs trade as a key transit route for drugs destined for
Europe, United States and the far East.

Kilimo said that the Government should urgently put in place measures to
prevent further proliferation of drugs into the country.

"Kenya faces a major challenge of drug and substance abuse that calls for
urgent mitigating measures to be put in place in view of its heavy toll on
the health, productivity of the individual, the immediate family, the
community and the whole nation," said Kilimo.

The minister was speaking during the official launch of three videos,
Diabetes: The silent killer, Smoking: Romancing with death and Youth and
drugs in the Ace Life Skills Series at a Nairobi hotel.

The documentaries specifically target the youth and offers guidance on
social and peer pressure that may lead to drug addiction.

"Poor dietary practices have become a leading cause of diseases such as
diabetes, cancer and heart diseases," she said.