SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND YOUTH

1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND YOUTH Presented by Nancy Ngetha KRN/ICN, Higher Diploma Counseling KRN/ICN/HIGHER DIPLOMA COUNSELING SENIOR NURSING OFFICER-KNH YOUTH CENTRE

2. BACKGROUND: • The KNH Youth Centre is a multi-displinary service delivery point for young people aged 10 yrs to 25 yrs • Substance abuse, worldwide, is acknowledged as one of the major challenges that that the youth have to contend with as they are growing up. • This presentation seeks to present the picture of substance abuse among the youth as seen at the KNH Youth Centre

3. BACKGROUND: • Why should we get concerned about substance abuse among the youth? • KNH Youth Centre has been experiencing an increase in the number of the cases of substance abuse or drug abuse related issues. • Many of the clients deny having ever used drugs but at some point, when trust has been established, they admit that they have been using the same. • Many miss classes as they are suspended during the time they are going through therapy.

4. MODE OF REFERRAL • Self referral • From secondary schools • From Universities and colleges • Parents or Guardians • Health care providers • From the community

5. SERVICE PROVISION • Production of referral letter or consultation form if available. • Registration • Client’s file is opened. • A counselor is allocated to attend to the client. • History taking from the client. • Collaborative history also taken from the parent, guardian and/or information gotten from the referral or consultation letter

6. SERVICE PROVISION • Review by the psychiatrists. • Investigations requested • Some clients are managed as out patients and others are referred for admission to rehab facilities. • Some join the youth substance recovery support group.

7. STATISTICS- Overall Numbers

10. STATISTICS:MALE

11. STATISTICS:FEMALE

13. MALE VERSUS FEMALE

14. FINDINGS FROM THE DATA • The number of young persons using/abusing drugs attended at the Youth Centre has continued to increase over the years. • Males=1077;Females=153 thus males are 7 times more than female • Note, though, the sudden upturn in numbers for the females over the past year!!!

15. FINDINGS DURING COUNSELLING SESSIONS • Young persons start taking drugs because: • Curiosity • Peer pressure • Stress in the family • Personal stress • For fun • Easily available especially where parents keep alcoholic drinks at home • To improve on their academics • To able to face a threatening situation

16. FINDINGS DURING COUNSELLING SESSIONS • When are they introduced to drugs? • During holidays when they go to visit their friends. • During holiday parties. • When they go clubbing. • At school by other students. • By their cousins who are already taking drugs. • After reading literature on substances and drugs then wants to experiment. • After rites of passage activities. • Family parties; adults socializing separately and nobody watches over the youth.

17. FINDINGS DURING COUNSELLING SESSIONS • Some parents are not aware of the truth they want to protect their children • Decline or inconsistent academic performance • Truancy • Dysfunctional families • Missing classes • Stealing • Legal issues

18. FINDINGS DURING COUNSELLING SESSIONS • Who provides the drugs? • Peers • Kiosk owners • Relatives • Staff from schools • Neighbors • Partners; boyfriend/girlfriend • Drugged by unknown people

19. CORRECTIVE INFORMATION Corrective information is disseminated during substance recovery support groups sessions. • This included information about • drugs and substance abuse, • effects of drugs, • strengthening of life skills and • myths on different issues are corrected.

20. CHALLENGES • Lack of trained staff on substance abuse counseling • Lack of drug test kits • Lack of a referral system for inpatient care • Lack of space for support group • Some parents are very defensive of their children • Stigma from family members • Too short a time for effective interventions: Most of the time we do three to four session as the client has to go back to school.

21. CHALLENGES • After we have given the letter to the school, there is usually no feedback on the client’s progress • Some schools expect the child to change with one session. • Parents expect that the child just needs a talk • Poor parental supervision

22. SUGGESTED WAY FORWARD • Capacity building in substance abuse management. • Screening for substance use on at risk youth. • Provision of drug test kits at the Youth Centre • More focus on the male youth • Strengthening the substance recovery support group • Initiating a support group for the parents/guardian • Enhance inpatient care and Rehabilitation Centre (within the hospital).

23. CONCLUSION • There are large and increasing numbers of youth (both male and female) coming for management of substance abuse concerns. • All the clients require multiple visits to address their challenges and concerns • Most of our client’s have responded well to the counseling provided • Significant numbers of youth coming with substance abuse challenges have other serious psychiatric co-morbidities. • With early intervention it is possible to assist the young people

24. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • KNH Management • KNH Youth Center management committee • Staff of the KNH Youth Center • Clients at the Youth Centre • Youth support members

25. Thank you Nancy Ngetha KNH YOUTH CENTRE