Account for to the rampant drug abuse among the youth in your community
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Answer:
Is this schoolwork, or did you just feel like posting this?
Explanation:
Community Participation in Drug Use and Abuse Interventions: A Call for Access to Information Budambula Valentine, PhD1 and Budambula Nancy, PhD2 1Department of Environment and Health, Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Embu, Kenya Drug use, abuse and addiction is a major public health problem that has been part of Kenyan communities for centuries. Weakening of the family fabric, access to social media, economic recession, porous borders and active ports of entry among other factors have escalated substance use. Globally as well as in Kenya, positive correlation between drug use and low education levels is well documented. Diverse literature on drugs is available in academic journals, text books and policy documents. Unfortunately, this population may not have the literary skills to access, interrogate and apply such information. Awareness in form of health education is the most effective tool in drug prevention at community level as it empowers people to make informed choices. Health education aims at promoting voluntary behavior change. Community participation in public health interventions has been shown to be cost effective. However, most communities shy away from participation due to lack of awareness. Lack of community participation has been an encumbrance to drug prevention and management interventions. Access to information is not only a right enshrined in the constitution of Kenya, it is also the key to improved awareness level. Despite the availability of text books in the world market on drug abuse, no text books have been available with local content and context for use by students. It is in this context that “Chasing the dragon: drug use and abuse” was written. The initial chapters are written in simple language that can be understood by persons with basic literacy skills. Sections of the book focusing on health-related issues such neurobiology and medical effects of drugs were added to meet the needs of students in tertiary institutions. Having pioneered writing a book for Kenyans by Kenyans, we have built the stairway for other Kenyans to walk on. Our appeal is to the brave warriors who have overcome addiction; parents of addicted children; children raised by addicted parents; and spouses of drug users to tell the world their story in writing. Many stories matter and real stories can avert drug use as well as the associated stigma.