UON STUDENTS URGED TO STOP DRUG ABUSE

By Maritim Evans
University of Nairobi today hosted a public forum dubbed “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Management” to address alcohol and drug abuse by University of Nairobi students.
Speaking during the forum, the university Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi urged the students to abstain from drugs saying drugs cannot add anything to one’s life.

UoN Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi addressing students

“Drug is just meant to destroy your life. As a matured person you should try to avoid them. This things are meant to destroy you completely while you are still young,” he said adding that some students buy costly drugs and they sleep angry.
Prof Mbithi, a professor of veterinary, said drugs abuse is common across all universities and there is need to sensitize students on the dangers of drugs.
“It is not only here at the University of Nairobi where drugs are common. You find that students in other universities in the country are also engaging in the same,” Prof Mbithi said urging the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) Chairman John Mututho, who was also present at the forum, to campaign strongly against drug abuse at institutions of higher learning in Kenya.
Prof Mbithi said nowadays children as young as 10 years of age are abusing drugs and it has made the fight against the vise hard.
“You find that the minors are also victims of drug abuse,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor however said the University of Nairobi has been engaging in the fight against drug abuse and sexual immorality for years and it will not relent in doing the same.
He said drug abuse cannot be eliminated in the universities but students should be taught dangers of the same. He also thanks the Christian Union of the university for engaging in serious campaigns against drugs and sexual immorality within the institution. He said that is the best way to deal with drug abusers.
In his part, NACADA Chairman John Mututho said they have been going to various institutions of higher learning to campaign against drug abuse. He said students should be at the forefront in fight against the vise since they are the one who understand the dangers of drugs.
“In fact you the learned guys should be fighting this. Why should you consume something you are aware it can kill you. It is high time we say no to drugs,” the Chairman said.
Several student leaders talked and their speeches were dominated by a request for students to stop abusing drugs.