NACADA's new wastewater study uncovers dangerous drug trends among Kenyan youth

This follows the launch of Kenya’s first comprehensive wastewater-based epidemiology study for drug control, making the country the first in East Africa to adopt the scientific approach in detecting patterns of drug consumption through sewage and wastewater analysis.

The pioneering report, unveiled by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is being hailed as a major breakthrough in evidence-based drug surveillance and public health intervention in the region.

The study involved the collection and laboratory analysis of 152 wastewater samples from 12 hotspot counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Kiambu County. Scientists used advanced analytical techniques such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and colorimetric testing to identify traces of illicit drugs and psychoactive substances in municipal sewer systems.

According to the report, Kenya is witnessing a worrying shift in its drug landscape, marked by the growing use of synthetic drugs and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Among the substances detected were methamphetamine, MDMA, synthetic cathinones commonly known as “bath salts,” benzofurans, alpha-ethyltryptamine, psilocybin and DMT.

The findings also pointed to possible clandestine laboratories involved in the local manufacture of synthetic stimulants, signaling a transition from Kenya being primarily a transit route for narcotics to an emerging consumer and production hub for synthetic drugs.

Speaking during the launch, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa described the findings as alarming, warning that the rapid evolution of drug use patterns poses a significant public health and security threat.

“This study provides concrete evidence that synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances are gaining a foothold in our communities,” said Dr Omerikwa.

According to the report, many of the illicit drugs circulating in the country are heavily adulterated with harmful chemicals that heighten the risk of toxicity and overdose. Heroin samples were found mixed with caffeine, diazepam, chloroquine and dextromethorphan, while cocaine samples contained levamisole and ketamine.

Researchers also flagged increasing cases of poly-drug use, with users combining heroin with cannabis or mixing alcohol with prescription sedatives such as Rohypnol.

The report further revealed the emergence of cannabis-infused edibles, particularly “weed cookies,” among young people, mirroring trends previously associated with Europe and North America. It also highlighted rising abuse of prescription medication among students and young adults aged between 13 and 25 years.

In response, NACADA recommended strengthening forensic and toxicology capacity, enhancing border and online drug trafficking surveillance, establishing an adulterant alert system, expanding naloxone distribution programmes, and intensifying public awareness campaigns targeting youth and vulnerable populations.

The report provides a foundation for more targeted policy interventions and public health responses in the fight against alcohol and substance abuse across East Africa.