Science Meets Practice: Localizing the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention in Kenya
Authors
1.Ms. Susan Maua (⚑ Kenya) 1
1. NACADA, ICAP, ISSUP & DAP
Abstract
Introduction
The UNODC-WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (2015) provides a roadmap for policy makers and other national stakeholders to develop programs, policies and systems that are truly effective investment in the future of children, youth, families, workplaces and communities. For a decade now, the Standards have been disseminated in many international forums including all the ISSUP conferences.
So why is there low uptake 10 years later?
Most evidence emanates from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, a few from Asia and even fewer from Africa. There is a disconnect between evidence-based interventions (EBIs) and local conditions and resources along with understanding the relationships between local conditions/resources and practices. There is slow buy-in by policy makers especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) who perceive EBIs as foreign and expensive. More preference is given to awareness creation that aims at quantity rather than quality.
The paradigm shifts in Kenya
In response to the ‘foreign’ tag for the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, the national focal point initiated a process to domesticate the Standards. Since 2007 NACADA routinely conducted national surveys every 5 years. However, the data did not inform practice and programming. Policies to inform programming were non-existent hence the birth of the National Guidelines on Alcohol and Drug Prevention (2021).
The Guidelines aim to provide a framework and minimum requirements for conducting effective alcohol and drug use prevention programs in schools, families, workplaces, communities and media.
To operationalize the guidelines, a Code of Practice for Prevention Practitioners and a National Alcohol and Drug Prevention System has been developed. Dissemination of the standards has reached more than 100 persons, capacity building of prevention practitioners in school, workplace, family and media has reached more than 4,000 persons.
