Young people have been advised to completely shun from abusing drugs and be careful about the parties they attend as some of them are used to induct youths into drugs.
Speaking on Wednesday at a youth forum in Kiambu Sub-County, Morris Njeru, a youth counsellor, cautioned youths against visiting places where alcohol and other drugs are sold.
Njeru also advised them to be wary of the clothes they wear and avoid those which advertise drugs since they tend to reinforce drug use and acceptability.
The forum which was organised by St Paul and Peter Catholic Church in Kiambu, was aimed at sensitising youths across the county on dangers of abusing drugs and how to overcome drug abuse and addiction.
Njeru also noted that although there are many campaigns carried out against hard drugs, alcohol abuse which has continued to adversely affect young people in the county has not been given the serious attention that it deserves.
“Alcohol has become the most abused drug as most youths take it as a social drink yet within no time they find themselves addicted to it,” said Njeru.
The church youth patron, Leah Kanai, said that drug abuse in the county is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed by all stakeholders.
She said that there are many young people aged between 16 and 22 years who do drugs due to peer pressure, most of which comes from their school mates.
The patron stressed the need for peer counseling whereby youths counsel their peers on the effects of drug abuse while parents, schools and churches also play a role in tackling the drug problem.
Kanai said drug abuse is wasting away youthful brains which could be used to transform the county into one of the most socially, economically and politically developed counties.
She however, said that hope is not lost and those already trapped in drug abuse still have a chance of recovering through rehabilitation institutions and support groups such as the ones found in churches.