Presented by Nancy Ngetha KRN/ICN, Higher Diploma Counseling KRN/ICN/HIGHER DIPLOMA COUNSELING SENIOR NURSING OFFICER-KNH YOUTH CENTRE

 The KNH Youth Centre is a multi-displinary service delivery point for young people aged 10 yrs to 25 yrs  Substance abuse, worldwide, is acknowledged as one of the major challenges that that the youth have to contend with as they are growing up.  This presentation seeks to present the picture of substance abuse among the youth as seen at the KNH Youth Centre

Why should we get concerned about substance abuse among the youth? ◦ KNH Youth Centre has been experiencing an increase in the number of the cases of substance abuse or drug abuse related issues. ◦ Many of the clients deny having ever used drugs but at some point, when trust has been established, they admit that they have been using the same. ◦ Many miss classes as they are suspended during the time they are going through therapy.

 Self referral  From secondary schools  From Universities and colleges  Parents or Guardians  Health care providers  From the community

 Production of referral letter or consultation form if available.  Registration  Client’s file is opened.  A counselor is allocated to attend to the client.  History taking from the client.  Collaborative history also taken from the parent, guardian and/or information gotten from the referral or consultation letter

 Review by the psychiatrists.  Investigations requested  Some clients are managed as out patients and others are referred for admission to rehab facilities.  Some join the youth substance recovery support group.

MT H/Y R JULYAUGSEPTOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNETOTAL 2007/ / / / / /

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MONT H/YEA R JULYAUGSEPTOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNETOTAL 2007/ / / / / /

 The number of young persons using/abusing drugs attended at the Youth Centre has continued to increase over the years.  Males=1077;Females=153 thus males are 7 times more than female  Note, though, the sudden upturn in numbers for the females over the past year!!!

 Young persons start taking drugs because: Curiosity Peer pressure Stress in the family Personal stress For fun Easily available especially where parents keep alcoholic drinks at home To improve on their academics To able to face a threatening situation

 When are they introduced to drugs? During holidays when they go to visit their friends. During holiday parties. When they go clubbing. At school by other students. By their cousins who are already taking drugs. After reading literature on substances and drugs then wants to experiment. After rites of passage activities. Family parties; adults socializing separately and nobody watches over the youth.

Some parents are not aware of the truth they want to protect their children Decline or inconsistent academic performance Truancy Dysfunctional families Missing classes Stealing Legal issues

 Who provides the drugs? ◦ Peers ◦ Kiosk owners ◦ Relatives ◦ Staff from schools ◦ Neighbors ◦ Partners; boyfriend/girlfriend ◦ Drugged by unknown people

Corrective information is disseminated during substance recovery support groups sessions.  This included information about ◦ drugs and substance abuse, ◦ effects of drugs, ◦ strengthening of life skills and ◦ myths on different issues are corrected.

Lack of trained staff on substance abuse counseling Lack of drug test kits Lack of a referral system for inpatient care Lack of space for support group Some parents are very defensive of their children Stigma from family members Too short a time for effective interventions: Most of the time we do three to four session as the client has to go back to school.

After we have given the letter to the school, there is usually no feedback on the client’s progress Some schools expect the child to change with one session. Parents expect that the child just needs a talk Poor parental supervision

Capacity building in substance abuse management. Screening for substance use on at risk youth. Provision of drug test kits at the Youth Centre More focus on the male youth Strengthening the substance recovery support group Initiating a support group for the parents/guardian Enhance inpatient care and Rehabilitation Centre (within the hospital).

 There are large and increasing numbers of youth (both male and female) coming for management of substance abuse concerns.  All the clients require multiple visits to address their challenges and concerns  Most of our client’s have responded well to the counseling provided  Significant numbers of youth coming with substance abuse challenges have other serious psychiatric co-morbidities.  With early intervention it is possible to assist the young people

 KNH Management  KNH Youth Center management committee  Staff of the KNH Youth Center  Clients at the Youth Centre  Youth support members

Nancy Ngetha KNH YOUTH CENTRE