Athi River town faces a huge challenge of drug and substance abuse, an official said on Friday.
Lillian Otieno, who is the Mavoko sub-county Probation Officer said several residents had been arraigned in court to answer charges related to drug and substance abuse.
"Athi River town faces a lot of problems on drugs especially bhang and illicit brew, most of the offenses committed include possessing drugs or disorderliness after consumption of illicit brew," said Otieno.
Ms Otieno who addressed youth and religious leaders during an Inter Faith Religious Forum on Drugs and Substance abuse at St Jude Catholic Church on Friday said the effect of abuse among consumers were great hence the need for attitude change among the residents.
"We cannot be a working nation when we are a drunken nation, parents and guardians of children addicted to the drugs spend hefty amounts of money in private rehabilitation centres to transform their children," she said.
She lamented that even though several culprits were arrested and charged at the Mavoko Law Courts on drug and substance related offenses, there was no much improvement in terms of withdrawal from usage and consumption and even trading in the same drugs.
She urged the locals to change their attitudes in a bid of give their children best parenting to enable them grow in to responsibly and successful Kenyans.