Let us remain vigilant to the deadly synthetic drug use slowly creeping into the country

By Simon Mwangi

The emerging crisis of synthetic drug use has pervaded almost all nook and cranny in the world, from the noisy streets of megalopolises to the rustic stretches of the rural. New psychoactive drugs have the scientific name “synthetic drugs” and describe new types of drugs that are prepared to mirror the effects of traditional drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. The fact that synthetic drugs are manufactured in small, illegal laboratories using untested chemicals allows for some extremely potent and dangerous types of drugs.

Strikingly, synthetic drugs are now infiltrating global markets: according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there are over a thousand different types now in existence, and this number continues to rise with novel synthetics being made. Then, there is an allure to synthetic drugs: they are easily available and more affordable than some other drugs because the user can buy them over the Internet or from illegal markets.

There is a devastating effect to the dangers of these drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids can be one hundred times more powerful than THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Overdose, psychosis, and death are among the cases. The opioid crisis, mostly driven by synthetics such as fentanyl, seems to remind the world of the deadly potential the class of drugs has. Research has it that Fentanyl is somewhere between fifty and one hundred times more potent than morphine and has caused tens of thousands of deaths worldwide.

Kenya has not been spared from this mess. The use of synthetic drugs over the years has taken an upward trajectory, especially with the youths and a greater population in the country, residing in the urban areas, for instance, Nairobi and Mombasa. The country has noted an escalated use of synthetic cannabinoids, commonly cited as “Spice” or “K2,” and synthetic stimulants like methamphetamine.

This increasing problem of synthetic drugs in Kenya is a matter of huge concern for several reasons. First, the drugs usually have a higher overdose potential than standard drugs and are therefore more dangerous. Second, living in oblivion, users are unaware of the risks associated with using these substances. Finally, the enforcement of drug control laws in Kenya has been greatly slow, hence greatly overstretched by the ever-dynamic drug landscape and resulting vice.

The Kenyan government, through agencies like the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), has been trying to grapple with the problem. However, the challenge is enormous. This is because synthetic drugs are usually tailored to beat detection and regulation and, hence are not easily controllable. Again, the stigma associated with the use of drugs locks out most users, who fear seeking help, thus worsening the problem even more.

Synthetic drug issues are expanding rapidly in Africa. The continent serves as a market and a transit point for these drugs. Synthetic drug use is dangerous because it marks a definite change from the usual kinds of drugs, which were mainly indigenous, like marijuana and khat.

Africa’s youthful population is in a class of its own when it comes to vulnerability. With widespread economic deprivation, coupled with poor job opportunities among the youths, synthetic drugs are the new form of escapism. “New” drugs, such as methamphetamine, commonly known as “crystal meth,” have been reported in countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. In most cases, these drugs are locally produced in secret laboratories, while others are flown from other possible sources such as Asia and Europe.

The unbearable rate at which synthetics have impacted public health has been noted all over the continent, with these drugs leading to mental disorders, violence, and crime. Besides, in most countries, the health systems are poorly equipped to deal with sequelae after the use of synthetic drugs, due to lack of resources for treatment and re-adaptation.

Addressing the problems brought about by synthetic drugs calls for interventions that encompass prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. It equally requires international collaboration on border control improvements and the sharing of intelligence information on efforts against the production and supply of synthetic drugs. This would involve increased enforcement and interception of online drug markets.

In Africa, investments in education and prevention campaigns against drug abuse need to be put in place, especially targeted toward the youth. Publicity campaigns are important for sensitizing communities to the dangers of synthetic drugs and urging the concerned to seek help. Improving access to treatment and rehabilitation services will also ensure that addicted persons recover and are reintegrated into society.

The war against such synthetic drugs in Kenya has to be heightened. To do this right, there is a need to bring aboard community groups to target vulnerable populations in society. At the very core, there is a need to address the social and economic drivers of drug use, including poverty, unemployment, and the general lack of opportunities among youths.

The global epidemic of synthetic drugs requires immediate and sustained action. In Africa and Kenya, especially, the emergence of synthetic drugs may potentially erode the gains made in the war with conventional forms of drug abuse.

The writer is the Manager, Corporate Communications National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse (Nacada)