Kenya is facing a growing cannabis crisis after new data revealed that nearly one million people are using bhang, with health experts warning that the sharp rise in consumption could fuel a wave of mental health disorders, especially among young people.
According to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), cannabis use in Kenya has surged by 90 percent over the four years leading to 2024.
The agency estimates that roughly one in every 53 Kenyans currently uses cannabis, making it one of the country’s most widely abused illicit drugs.
The alarming figures come as a major international study involving more than 463,000 adolescents found that teenagers who use cannabis are nearly twice as likely to develop psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder later in life.
Researchers reported that cannabis use often preceded mental health diagnoses by approximately two years, strengthening calls for governments to intensify prevention campaigns targeting young people.
Growing Concern Over Youth Drug Abuse
NACADA says the situation is particularly worrying because many Kenyans begin experimenting with drugs while still in their early teenage years.
According to the authority, most adolescents who abuse illicit substances first try them between the ages of 13 and 15. Experts warn that exposing the developing brain to cannabis during adolescence may have lasting effects on memory, learning, judgment and emotional regulation.
Health professionals say although not everyone who uses cannabis will develop a mental illness, early and frequent use significantly increases the risk among vulnerable individuals, particularly those with a family history of psychiatric disorders.
One Million Users Raise Alarm
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa recently expressed concern over the rapid increase in cannabis consumption, saying the trend has become a major public health challenge.
The agency’s latest findings indicate that more than half a million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 are active cannabis users, with young adults accounting for a significant proportion of those affected.
Nearly half of current cannabis users also show signs of cannabis dependence or severe substance use disorder.
NACADA attributes the rising numbers to persistent myths that portray cannabis as harmless, coupled with increased availability, peer influence and the growing normalization of drug use among some young people.
Nairobi Among Hardest-Hit Regions
Previous NACADA surveys have consistently ranked Nairobi among the regions with the highest prevalence of cannabis use, followed by parts of Nyanza and the Coast. Urban centres remain key hotspots due to easier access to the drug and wider distribution networks.
The authority has intensified raids targeting cannabis distribution networks in several counties while also urging communities to report drug dens operating within residential areas.
High Court Upholds Cannabis Ban
The renewed warning also comes shortly after the High Court upheld Kenya’s prohibition on the use of cannabis for religious purposes, maintaining that the country’s narcotics laws remain in force despite arguments by petitioners seeking exemptions for religious practices.
The ruling reaffirmed that the cultivation, possession and use of cannabis remain illegal under Kenyan law.
Parents Urged to Take Action
NACADA is now calling on parents, teachers, religious leaders and community organisations to play a bigger role in preventing young people from experimenting with drugs.
The authority says stronger family support systems, school-based awareness programmes and coordinated government interventions will be crucial in reversing the rising trend.
Public health experts also recommend early education on the dangers of substance abuse, improved access to mental health services and timely treatment for young people struggling with addiction before long-term complications develop.
As Kenya grapples with rising cannabis use, experts warn that preventing adolescents from starting the habit could be one of the country’s most effective strategies for reducing future cases of addiction and serious mental illness.
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