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There is need for the government to involve drug and alcohol reformed addicts in fighting the vices.

The recently launched nationwide crackdown on drugs and illicit brews being spearheaded by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should consider involving reformed drug addicts in the process.
It’s sad that drugs and illicit brews have consumed generations in many parts of the country, with majority of the youth abandoning farming, schooling among other development activities to engage in immoral activities.

There are those youth who have reformed from being addicts having lived a life in disgrace and have since become role models for those who want to bring their lives back on track.

These rehabilitated addicts can be used in the fight against drugs and illicit brews in the society. An addict will keep returning to the peer group of addicts even when he is clean for weeks or months.

The truth is that only those who understand the pain in the process can help them get out of the situation they are in.

On the other hand, leaders, police, churches, the provincial administration and Non-Governmental Organisations should demonstrate their seriousness in the war against drug abuse and illicit brews.

The reality is that the situation is getting out of control if urgent measures are not taken to contain it.
This is why all leaders must put aside their political differences and support initiatives by Gachagua in exploring ways of addressing the vices for the sake of the current and future generations.

There are reports going rounds in some regions that some leaders cannot interfere with the work of dealers of illicit brews or the consumers as the former are their election financiers and the latter malleable voting machines.

But whom will they lead if the youths are wiped because of the drugs and illicit brews?As a fact, production of illicit brews has mushroomed in recent years causing an unknown quantity of social damage, an increase in mental health and blindness cases, as well as hundreds of deaths.

In fact, consumption of illicit brews has been identified as a key driver and maintainer of chronic poverty in the country, as youth no longer engage in farming, business activities among other income generating activities that can uplift their lives. It’s true that because of drugs and illicit brews, agricultural production is at rock bottom, families have broken down, children have dropped out of school and poverty has hit the roof.

Church leaders’ have not come out openly to talk against the vices, with provincial administration and police becoming helpless against the bribe money that sees them allow the illicit liquor to flow.
But the most worrying part of it is that secondary schools and institutions of higher learning have not been spared, as they have now become the centres of drugs and illicit brews. It should be clear that a society that does not care about its young people is a society that will vanish.

Chiefs and their assistants have failed to control cases of alcohol and drug abuse in their areas of jurisdiction because of lack of support from police. In fact, there are claims that police in many parts of the country collude with youths engaging in the vice to frustrate the work of chiefs in fighting the drug menace.

In this connection, the government should take disciplinary measures against those found producing, transporting or taking illicit brews to serve as an example of those who engage in the same business.
Nevertheless, the ongoing crusade being spearheaded by Mr Gachagua should be supported by all leaders besides involving reformed drug and alcohol addicts in addressing the vices.
— The writer works for the Presidential Communication Service