NACADA board endorses new framework for community-based addiction care
Election
Originally published by KBC Digital — Read the original article →
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In a major move toward strengthening the nation’s response to drug and substance abuse, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) Board of Directors has officially validated the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Guidelines. The decision, reached during a board meeting led by Chairperson Stephen Mairori, marks the highest level of organisational commitment to demand-reduction strategies in Kenya to date.
The validated guidelines establish a comprehensive operational framework for decentralizing rehabilitation services to the grassroots level, where they are most needed. With Kenya facing a significant treatment gap, only 135 accredited treatment and rehabilitation facilities with a combined capacity of 3,790 beds, the CBR framework offers a cost-effective, community-centred alternative that expands equitable access to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration services.
According to NACADA’s National Survey, approximately 1.36 million Kenyans aged 15–65 have severe alcohol use disorder, while 887,627 suffer from severe tobacco use disorder. Despite this substantial burden, many do not access formal treatment due to limited services, high costs, stigma, and shortages of trained addiction professionals. The CBR guidelines directly address these barriers by integrating care into primary healthcare and existing community systems.
