Cannabis remains the most abused drug in Kenya even as new and more dangerous substances continue to emerge, a new report by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) shows.
The study, which used wastewater analysis to track drug consumption patterns, analyzed a total of 152 samples, including 48 wastewater samples and 104 drug samples collected from hotspots across the country.
The findings show that cannabis is the most commonly used drug across all the regions sampled.
It is followed by heroin and cocaine, which also remain significant in the country’s drug landscape.
The analysis was conducted in the eight administrative regions of Kenya, namely Nairobi, Central, Eastern, North Eastern, Rift Valley (North Rift and South Rift), Nyanza, Western, and Coast. In total, 12 hot-spot counties were covered in the study.
The counties included Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Nyeri, Isiolo, Garissa, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale.
Researchers collected and examined samples to detect traces of drugs and their chemical markers, providing a real-time picture of substance use at the community level.
Beyond illegal drugs, the report also found widespread abuse of prescription medicines.
Diazepam emerged as the most commonly misused, alongside tramadol, amitriptyline, and trihexyphenidyl, signaling growing misuse of drugs meant for medical treatment.
Rise of Synthetic and New Psychoactive Substances
Even as cannabis continues to dominate, the report raises concern over a steady rise in synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances.
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These are laboratory-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of traditional substances but are often more potent and harder to regulate.
The study confirmed the presence of substances such as alpha-ethyltryptamine, benzofurans, and synthetic cathinones in the Kenyan drug market.
It also identified methamphetamine, MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin and DMT.
“The emergence of these substances points to a shifting drug culture, especially among young people aged between 13 and 25, who were identified as the most affected group,” read the report by NACADA.
Unlike traditional drugs, synthetic substances can have unpredictable effects and may lead to severe health complications.
The report further indicates that some of these drugs could be produced locally, citing evidence of small-scale clandestine laboratories involved in the manufacture of synthetic stimulants.
This marks a worrying trend as local production makes the drugs more accessible and harder to control.
At the same time, drug use is spreading beyond traditional hotspots.
While heroin has long been associated with coastal regions and Nairobi, it is now being reported in counties such as Nakuru, Kisumu, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, and Isiolo.
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Cocaine use is also emerging in Nairobi and Nakuru, showing a gradual spread into new areas.
NACADA on Dangerous Mixing of Drugs
According to the NACADA Wastewater Analysis, there is a growing trend of polydrug use, where individuals consume multiple substances at the same time.
“This practice is becoming more common and is seen as one of the most dangerous developments in the country’s drug use patterns,” NACADA stated, adding that the government and relevant authorities need to take action as soon as possible.
Common combinations include heroin mixed with diazepam, cannabis combined with tramadol, and alcohol taken alongside prescription drugs.
There are also cases of users combining khat with benzhexol and alcohol to achieve stronger effects.
NACADA warns that mixing drugs greatly increases the risk of overdose, toxicity, and long-term health damage.
It also makes treatment more complex, as users may be dependent on multiple substances at once.
In addition, the study found that many drugs are heavily adulterated.
Heroin, for instance, is often mixed with substances such as caffeine, dextromethorphan, chloroquine, and diazepam.
Cocaine samples were found to contain levamisole, caffeine, and ketamine, with levamisole identified as the most common cutting agent.
These additives can alter the effects of drugs and expose users to additional health risks, often without their knowledge.
The report also shows that the problem cuts across different segments of society, with high levels recorded among students, unemployed youth, and even working professionals, pointing to a wider national challenge.
NACADA concluded that wastewater analysis is a powerful tool for tracking drug trends in near real time, enabling authorities to detect emerging substances quickly.
