Former NACADA chairman John Mututho has challenged the government to ensure only professionals offer counselling services towards addicts of drugs and substance abuse.
Addressing the media in Nakuru on Friday after a 2-day behavioural change conference organized by Counseling Psychologists’ Consortium (CPC) Nakuru branch, Mututho called on Health CS Sicily Kariuki to ensure regulations are in place on the same.
While terming drugs and substance abuse a menace in the country, the former Nacada boss who is also the proprietor of John Mututho Empowerment Rehab Centre said leaders should put concerted efforts in ensuring that the menace is addressed.
“Counseling should be done by professionals and that is why we are calling on the CS Health to ensure regulations are in place," Mututho said.
The former Naivasha MP also called on psychologists top consider adding political addiction as the 20th on the list of addictions.
Currently, there are 19 dangerous drugs and substances of addiction and according to Mututho, in consideration to Kenya, then political addiction should be included.
He also slammed politicians for messing up the country instead of finding solutions to the many challenges facing Kenyans.
This comes just a day after a group of counselling psychologists in Nakuru under the umbrella of Counseling Psychologists’ Consortium (CPC) raised concerns over the increased homicide and suicidal cases in the country, something they blame on mental disturbance.
Led by Pastor Hodari Wagala, the counsellors noted that cases of suicide in the country were reaching a crisis level, hence the need for quick intervention.
Pastor Wagala underscored the need for more psychologist counsellors in the country, who he said should even be based in schools and colleges.
“There are so many people out there in need of help and counselling, but they cannot access the service, because we have very few professional counselling psychologists in the country,” he said.
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