Presented by Nancy NgethaKRN/ICN, Higher Diploma CounselingKRN/ICN/HIGHER DIPLOMA COUNSELINGSENIOR NURSING OFFICER-KNH YOUTH

CENTRE

The KNH Youth Centre is a multi-displinary service delivery point for young people aged 10 yrs to 25 yrs

Substance abuse, worldwide, is acknowledged as one of the major challenges that that the youth have to contend with as they are growing up.

This presentation seeks to present the picture of substance abuse among the youth as seen at the KNH Youth Centre

• Why should we get concerned about substance abuse among the youth?◦ KNH Youth Centre has been experiencing an

increase in the number of the cases of substance abuse or drug abuse related issues.

◦ Many of the clients deny having ever used drugs but at some point, when trust has been established, they admit that they have been using the same.

◦ Many miss classes as they are suspended during the time they are going through therapy.

Self referral From secondary schools From Universities and colleges Parents or Guardians Health care providers From the community

Production of referral letter or consultation form if available.

Registration Client’s file is opened. A counselor is allocated to attend to the

client. History taking from the client. Collaborative history also taken from the

parent, guardian and/or information gotten from the referral or consultation letter

Review by the psychiatrists. Investigations requested Some clients are managed as out patients

and others are referred for admission to rehab facilities.

Some join the youth substance recovery support group.

MTH/YR

JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE TOTAL

2007/2008

15 09 12 05 05 03 04 03 02 06 00 12 69

2008/2009

20 12 00 13 15 00 14 7 10 6 2 6 105

2009/2010

00 5 5 18 24 8 09 11 13 00 09 10 112

2010/2011

11 01 05 09 17 15 20 00 30 10 30 22 155

2011/2012

14 27 24 17 22 20 22 20 24 17 29 27 263

2012/2013

33 29 11 17 00 42 45 36 54 36 67 107 477

MONTH/YEAR

JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE TOTAL

2007/2008 14 06 16 09 03 04 04 09 02 05 13 12 97

2008/2009 22 10 12 8 15 00 11 08 11 06 02 06 11

62009/2010 01 05 04 20 24 08 05 10 10 06 08 11 11

22010/2011 10 06 04 09 07 10 16 16 19 09 24 16 13

02011/2012 11 18 22 14 18 12 21 16 24 17 27 27 20

02012/2013 33 27 6 13 18 36 29 33 48 29 54 96 42

2

MONTH/YEAR

JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE TOTAL

2007/2008 04 04 00 01 02 01 00 01 01 01 00 00 142008/2009 00 01 00 04 00 00 03 00 01 00 00 00 092009/2010 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 01 02 00 00 01 052010/2011 02 02 01 00 08 03 05 04 02 02 05 03 342011/2012 04 06 00 01 03 07 01 04 00 00 02 00 282012/2013 00 02 05 04 01 05 17 02 05 00 13 08 63

The number of young persons using/abusing drugs attended at the Youth Centre has continued to increase over the years.

Males=1077;Females=153 thus males are 7 times more than female

Note, though, the sudden upturn in numbers for the females over the past year!!!

Young persons start taking drugs because:• Curiosity• Peer pressure• Stress in the family• Personal stress• For fun• Easily available especially where parents keep

alcoholic drinks at home• To improve on their academics• To able to face a threatening situation

When are they introduced to drugs?• During holidays when they go to visit their friends.• During holiday parties.• When they go clubbing.• At school by other students.• By their cousins who are already taking drugs.• After reading literature on substances and drugs

then wants to experiment.• After rites of passage activities.• Family parties; adults socializing separately and

nobody watches over the youth.

• Some parents are not aware of the truth they want to protect their children

• Decline or inconsistent academic performance

• Truancy• Dysfunctional families• Missing classes• Stealing• Legal issues

Who provides the drugs?◦ Peers◦ Kiosk owners◦ Relatives◦ Staff from schools◦ Neighbors◦ Partners; boyfriend/girlfriend◦ Drugged by unknown people

Corrective information is disseminated during substance recovery support groups sessions.

This included information about ◦ drugs and substance abuse, ◦ effects of drugs, ◦ strengthening of life skills and ◦ myths on different issues are corrected.

• Lack of trained staff on substance abuse counseling

• Lack of drug test kits• Lack of a referral system for inpatient care• Lack of space for support group• Some parents are very defensive of their

children• Stigma from family members• Too short a time for effective interventions:

Most of the time we do three to four session as the client has to go back to school.

• After we have given the letter to the school, there is usually no feedback on the client’s progress

• Some schools expect the child to change with one session.

• Parents expect that the child just needs a talk

• Poor parental supervision

• Capacity building in substance abuse management.

• Screening for substance use on at risk youth.• Provision of drug test kits at the Youth Centre• More focus on the male youth• Strengthening the substance recovery support

group• Initiating a support group for the

parents/guardian• Enhance inpatient care and Rehabilitation

Centre (within the hospital).

There are large and increasing numbers of youth (both male and female) coming for management of substance abuse concerns.

All the clients require multiple visits to address their challenges and concerns

Most of our client’s have responded well to the counseling provided

Significant numbers of youth coming with substance abuse challenges have other serious psychiatric co-morbidities.

With early intervention it is possible to assist the young people

KNH Management KNH Youth Center management committee Staff of the KNH Youth Center Clients at the Youth Centre Youth support members

Nancy Ngetha KNH YOUTH CENTRE