Reformed Isiolo drug addicts with no jobs for income risk relapse

As hundreds of youths in Isiolo County continue to grapple with drug and substance abuse, efforts by a group of reformists to help addicts quit drugs are slowly bearing fruit.

A programme that started four years ago as counselling sessions for drug addicts has over time seen at least 30 youths, mostly in Isiolo Sub-County, quit drugs.

At the centre of the programme was one Yussuf Jillo who had just quit drugs after more than 10 years of addiction and who is currently the county reformist chairperson.

The beneficiaries, the majority who had abused drugs for between 1-4 years, have fully reformed but are at risk of getting back to drugs due to a lack of economic opportunities.

To address this challenge, Yussuf told The Eastleigh Voice, that the programme had introduced a platform that seeks to help the reformed addicts showcase their talent to nurture them, keep them engaged and take care of their mental health.

“Apart from encouraging the addicts to increasingly reduce their use of the drugs, we also undertake social activities such as team-building to ease their reformation journey,” Yussuf said.

One of them, Ismael Hussein, had dropped out of school after he was overwhelmed by bhang and khat addiction but resumed studies after several months of counselling. He is now using artwork to explore his creativity.

“I was not able to proceed to college after Form Four but artwork is helping me stay engaged and earn from wall paintings and drawings though the market is unreliable,” Ismael said.

Another beneficiary, Raymond Onyango, 32, who quit drugs five years ago, said lack of support was making it difficult for many to quit addiction due to obsession and lack of treatment.

“Methadone that helps purify the blood is not available locally, making it hard for many of the addicts to quit,” he said.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid that treats chronic pain and addiction.

Cheaper solution

A high unemployment rate, domestic violence and poor parenting have been blamed for youth indulgence in drug and substance abuse.

Yussuf Jillo and some of the drug reformists during an interview in Isiolo town on July 30, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu/EV)

A cheaper form of heroin (in powder form), locally known as kete, kucha, mzigo, kichuri and dragon, is most popular among the youth as many see it as the best solution to hunger as it induces a lack of appetite which makes them stay longer without food.

Yussuf said a big number of the addicts who struggled to get out of the menace were sliding back due to lack of support and that several of them had succumbed.

Further compounding their woes is a lack of shelter as a number of them have been disowned by their families while others are orphans and have no place to stay, leaving them with the option of staying in the streets.

“The reformation journey is somewhat slow and unpromising due to obsession and lack of treatment and support,” Yussuf said.

Those adversely affected have to be monitored on a 24-hour basis while others have to be tied using chains to ensure they do not hurt anyone.

Yussuf, who is an artist, revealed that the majority of the reformists were either talented artists, musicians or footballers but were a frustrated lot due to lack of support from local leaders and the county government.

He has been at the forefront of campaigning against drugs and sensitising the public on their effects, especially during national celebrations.

“Some of us are actors, rappers, musicians and footballers but our talents remain underutilised due to lack of support,” he said.

His group recently registered a community-based organisation that it plans to use to get help to undertake various activities including advocacy work.

The group’s officials decried the lack of access to the Isiolo Youth Innovation Centre “due to infiltration by a few self-centred youths”. The centre is supposed to offer them a platform to nurture their talent.

“If there were clear plans, we would be using the premises for counselling and training sessions but we are forced to do it at the open-air market in Isiolo town,” Yussuf said.

Delayed implementation of the Youth, Women and Persons Living with Disabilities Act by the county government also remains a major hurdle as the devolved unit lacks clear guidelines on empowering the groups.

Yussuf said local elected leaders had during the 2022 general elections promised to ensure a rehabilitation centre is established in the region to help the addicts but this never happened.

“We only want to be supported through the provision of jobs and empowerment programmes to enable the reformists to earn a living,” he said.