Clergy Supports Efforts to Fight Drug Abuse
The emergence of new psychoactive substances, synthetic drugs and the apparent shift to the non-medical use of narcotic and psychotropic substances have further complicated the drug problem.
The potency of the emergent substances presents serious security and health issues – a situation if left unaddressed has the potential to reverse all hard-earned social-economic and political gains. National efforts should strike a balance between supply and demand reduction as they are both mutually complementing.
Kenya Assemblies of God Nyahururu District Bishop Simon Kieru fully supports collaboration between religious institutions and other stakeholders in the fight of not just alcohol, but also other substances of abuse.
“Supply reduction interventions should be vibrant, flexible, and sufficiently innovative to tackle emerging trends in the production, sale, and trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances. On the other hand, demand reduction strategies should be people-oriented covering all areas in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. As Member States taking part in this session, the progress review calls us to double our efforts in combating the world drug problem. Under the leadership of His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, Kenya has adopted a two-pronged approach that provides sufficient focus on both demand and supply reduction. This response is guided by our national policies and legislations that are aligned to the three international conventions on drug control and adopted policy documents. I hereby affirm Kenya’s commitment to uphold the principles enshrined in the international drug conventions and stand opposed to all forms of non-conformity including legalization of controlled substances for recreational use. I therefore urge the clergy to continue with efforts to curb the menace of drug and substance abuse.”
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