Substance Abuse and dependency: A concern at the CHS

Muthoni Mathai Antony Ayieko Ong’any

Alcohol and drug abuse committee CHS

Objective

• Increase awareness on the harmful effects of Alcohol and drugs

• Effect on wellbeing of students and staff• Impact on student and staff performance• Overall cost to the institution• Introduce the concept of the alcohol and drug

prevention unit

Lifetime Drugs Use- student study

Active Vs Life time Drug UseLife time use 2010 (%)

Active use (%) (2010)

Active use (%) (2009)

Alcohol 51.4 38.8 38.5

Tobacco 22.3 12.3 10.7

Khat 13 6.6 8.34

Cannabis 11.8 7.7 5.71

Sedatives 4.7 1.5 2.35

Opioids 2.2 1.0 0.34

Cocaine 2.2 1.2 1.3

Inhalants 2.6 1.3 0.84

Amphetamine2.2

1.09

Hallucinogens 2.2 1.4 0.84

Revelin 1.1 0.9 0

Substance-Induced Disorders• Intoxication

• Withdrawal

• Tolerance

• Delirium

• Persisting Dementia

• Persisting Amnestic Disorder

• Psychotic Disorder

• Mood Disorder

• Anxiety Disorder

• Sexual Dysfunction

• Sleep Disorder

Long term Effects• Organ damage• Neurological damage• Liver cirrhosis• Impotence• Weight loss• Reduced Immunity• Wernicke-korsakoff’s

syndrome

• Peptic ulceration• Asthma, Bronchitis• Pneumonia,• emphysema• CVAs & • Cancers• Death

National Impact• Illiteracy• Decline in economic production• Increased cost of running and maintaining schools

and other institutions• Increased cost of health care- treatment and

rehabilitation• Disintegration of social norms• Erosion of moral and spiritual values, mainly

among the youth • Increase in crime rate

Costs at the CHS

• Absenteeism• Injuries• Lowered performance• Drop-outs• Health costs• Loss of Productivity• Employee Morale• increased conflicts

Potential of Intervention Programs

• 91% decrease in absenteeism

• 88% decrease in problems with supervisors

• 93% decrease in mistakes in work

• 97% decrease in on-the-job injuries.

Individual responsibilities

Am I my Brother’s Keeper??• Responsibilities to self• Responsibility to students• Reponsibility to colleagues- academic staff• Responsibilty to non teaching staff• Responsibilities of managers

Individual Brief Intervention - NUDGE• Notice someone with stress or problems• Understand that you may have a role to

play in the solution• Decide if you should say something• Use Guides (Roll with resistance, listen,

show concern, make your move)• Encourage him or her to get help (know

your limits)

Alcohol and drug prevention unit- CHS

• Offer guidelines for dealing with ADU problems at the CHS

• Sensitisation and awareness• Facilitate early detection • Promote Individual brief intervention• Referral for further management• Liaise and report to the UON Unit

Summary• The bio-psychosocial effects of Alcohol and Drug

abuse on the individual are serious yet often underestimated

• Drugs play a major role in other problems in the society e.g. HIV/AIDS, violence, accidents, interpersonal conflicts, poor performance, etc

• The impact on the institution are substantial• Various intervention measures can be

undertaken• Commitment by the management is key to

success

Thank you

“Drug abuse is a problem that can be

prevented, treated and controlled”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon