Drugs and substance abuse prevention: Contact NACADA Authority Kenya Counselors free on tel 1192

Drugs and substance abuse is widespread Globally and it interferes with brain development of the young people.Therefore sensitization on drugs and substance abuse among the young people need special emphasis  in order to rescue and save our future today. Early detection of drugs and substance abuse is vital for prevention and rehabilitation of the youth. According to NACADA (National Campaign against Drugs Abuse) authority Kenya, 75% of Kenyan population is made up of young people below 30 years.33% of the population consists of young people15-30 years.56% of criminals are youth  aged 24-25 years. The youth currently make up 33% of the Kenyans infected with HIV/AIDS. Young women 15-24 years are three times more likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS than men of the same age. Among students research shows that 75% have tried alcohol at least once. Majority of the young people fall into these social vices during adolescent which is a period of rapid change and critical decision making in relation to:-

• Self identity: autonomy, independence, esteem and image
• Sexual identity : boy girl relationship
• Vocational identity: Career choice

When the youth were asked what led them to start this practices some of the answers were curiosity, to fit in, rebellion etc.

Stages of drugs and substance abuse

1. Experiential stage: This is when the youth are experimenting or trying
2. Social stage: the young people are seen with strange friends
3. Instrumental stage:The youth can remember the previous day's activities as the mind is not yet damaged
4. Habitual stage: the practice  becomes a habit/routene
5. Compulsory/ addiction stage: The youth can engage in any social vice including lies, stealing, theft ,prostitution and selling housewares for money money to sustain drugs and substance abuse.

Classification

1. Stimulants: increases activity e.g. tobacco, coccaine, miraa
2. Depressants: decreases activity e.g. codein, diazipan
3. Steroids: common with youth males, fosters formation of living tissues increasing muscular mass
4. Hallucinogens: causes hallucinations or pronounced alteration of perception, state of fantasy, illusions and being lost in the world of dreams e.g. cannabis, hashish
5. Prescription medicine e.g. codeine, morphine, valium, pethidine.   

Effects of drugs and substance abuse

• Developmental effects: When drugs and substance abuse starts before young people attain 21 years,  brain development is retarded
• Memory blackouts in young people
• Sexual problems i.e. lack of appeal or promiscuity
• Insomnia, moodiness, restlessness, hallucinations
• dread of facing people
• Injection marks
•  skin rash
• Watering eyes

This is a guide to identification of cases of drugs and substance abuse among the youth and young people. Be aware, be alert, be alive and support prevention!
More-http://yagrein.blogspot.com/p/what-are-youth-saying.html

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Make 6m in three years from Fast Growing Giant Bamboo Farming in Kenya

The fast growing giant bamboo is a disease resistant plant which can flourish in Kenya’s arid zones making millions of shillings from an acre of wasteland. The fast growing giant bamboo could be the solution to Africa’s environmental and economic woes. It has numerous uses including building, making furniture, water purification and as a nutritious vegetable. This new venture can revolutionize the environmental conservation and benefits from traditional subsistence and commercial agriculture in the developing countries. The seedlings are are available from various innovative farmers. The seedlings can also be produced through tissue culture in a laboratory. Tissue culture is a biotechnology practice that produces seedlings through vegetative propagation, which is a form of asexual reproduction of seedlings.

The benefits of this plant cannot be underestimated as it prospers in a wide range of ecological conditions and can be produced virtually in all parts of Kenya, including areas with harsh environment. Seedlings for export should be grown on an internationally accepted media, packed and shipped accompanied by the requisite phytosanitary certificate’s .The plants lifespan is estimated to be about 40 years according to an experienced farmer.

50 plants are ideal for a small-scale farmer to start the project .The fast growing giant bamboo seedlings can be planted at a spacing of 5 by 5 metres. This gives a plant population of 160 seedlings per acre of land. The fast growing giant bamboo grows to about 1.2 metres in diameter, and 1.8 metres to three metres in height within three years. The crop requires minimal care making it easy to manage and profitable.

A single bush will produce about 300 stems per year, valued at Sh. 200 each, which can raise Ksh. 60,000. With two harvests per year, a farmer can make Ksh 6 million from 50 bushes. The plant has no adverse natural pests and diseases as it produces pest resistant chemicals. The fast growing giant bamboo takes only three years from seedling stage to maturity stage. The seedlings, as recommended by the forestry department, are sold when 60cm in height. The fast growing giant bamboo can go a long way to alleviate environmental degradation and climate change. Fast growing giant Bamboo plant can also be used as a renewable energy source especially in making charcoal briquettes preventing deforestation and providing fuel for home use and for sale.

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