The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) in Kenya has expressed concern over drug abusers injecting themselves with animal tranquilisers as a substitute for heroin.
NACADA launched investigations after widely shared clips on social media showed people in the coastal region suspected to be drug abusers in “zombie-like” postures.
Kenya’s anti-drugs abuse agency in a statement on Sunday explained that it is yet to find fentanyl in the various samples it tested. Fentanyl is a deadly, synthetic opioid widely believed to be many times more powerful than heroin. believed.
The agency found that the indicators were due to a high dosage of heroin and a combination of heroin and other drugs including xylazine (a veterinary tranquiliser), prescription drugs and other substances.
NACADA stated that the abuse of veterinary drugs “presents a potential public health crisis” in handling cases of drug overdose.
It further warned that “With the emerging evidence of non-medical use of veterinary drugs, there is urgent need to institute measures to regulate and control the diversion of such drugs into the illegal market.”
NACADA also revealed in its report that individuals who use both cannabis and alcohol face the highest risk of depressive disorder, which is 2.3 times greater compared to non-users.
Depressive disorder is characterised by persistent feelings of sorrow, prolonged loss of interest or pleasure in life, often accompanied by symptoms such as disrupted sleep patterns, guilt, inadequacy, and even thoughts of self-harm.