When National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) released a report titled “Status of drugs and substance abuse among university students”, the findings were a cause for alarm. This is because it appears that nearly half of university students in Kenya are using one or more type of drug; either substance or alcohol.

With universities majorly consisting of the Gen Zs who are navigating their early adult years, many parents, guardians, and custodians have no idea on the kind of life their children are living while in school.

When it comes to grave matters such as drug and alcohol abuse, many usually throw stones at victims, judging them for their life choices. To the outside world, the Gen Zs are a lost generation. They are accussed of being reckless, irresponsible and addicted to self-destruction. However, beneath these destructive habits lies deeper truths that pushes them to take that puf, a shot or a pill.

What really forces the Gen Zs to abuse drugs and alcohol?

Coping mechanisms for stress

Majority of the university students struggle to cope-up with academic pressures that comes with high expectations to meet deadlines and to perform well.

A good number of them have to balance school and some side hustles because they are out to make ends meet in this tough times. All these are contributing factors to their stress, and when it gets too unbearable, drugs are the only answer to their troubles.

“I’m a second-year biochemistry student. Despite being enrolled at the school through Joint Admissions Boards of Kenya (JAB), the school fees is too hefty and I have to hustle to help my parents pay it because they can’t aford it by themselves,” says Matthew Blake.

According to him, exam periods are the most stressful as one cannot sit for the exams without clearing the balance. As such, he resorts to bhang and ecstasy, which helps him relax and forget about his worries.

Peer pressure and social influence

24-year-old Jane Wanja, a fourth year student reveals that she was introduced to drugs when she was a first year and due to the pressure to fit in, she fell deep into it.

“I joined campus as an innocent girl, fresh from high school. Coming from the rural areas, I didn’t know what bhang looked like, let alone how to use it. But then, I made friends in school and they introduced me to it, little did I know that I would become a pro-smoker,” she shares.

She further notes that since she wanted to be part of the ‘woke culture” which also meant using at least a type of drug, she was naturally obliged to embrace the drug culture.

“It’s hard to make friends in campus if you are reserved, you’ll wallow in loneliness and despair. To survive and make campus life bearable, you just have to embrace the culture even if it means becoming a whole new person,” Wanja notes.

Family influences

Like it or not, as a parent, you might be the reason why your child is using drugs. Today, many “woke” parents just do things as their children watch them. Some Gen Zs say they have grown up seeing their parents drink alcohol or use other drugs. As such, they’ve grown up knowing alcohol consumption is not really a bad thing.

Ultimately, they emulate their parents’ drinking habits. Generally, the Gen Zs are not just thrill-seeking. Many of them are struggling with deeper personal, mental, social and traumatic issues that makes them believe that drugs are the only way to escape their trouble