Karatina University Opens Substance Abuse Crisis Resource Centre
Dr Pauline Thuku explains to the spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi how the the Substance Abuse Crisis Response Centre at the Karatina University will work, and includes a toll free number to deal with cases of suicide and addiction on 12th July 2024. Pastor Dorcas also attended the closing ceremony of the week-long "Drugs and Substance Abuse Prevention and Management Workshop" at Karatina University, Nyeri County. Photo/ODP
By ODP
The spouse of the Deputy President Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has commended Karatina University for the establishment of the Substance Abuse Crisis Response Centre at the institution’s grounds.
During the closing ceremony of a one-week long workshop themed ‘Drugs and Substance Abuse Prevention and Management Workshop’, Pastor Dorcas officially opened the centre, which will have a toll-free line for anyone in distress and contemplating suicide or affected by alcohol, drug, and substance abuse. It will also have volunteering counselors and psychologists.
She commended the University for creating an environment to fight alcohol, drug, and substance use, curb cases of suicide and also raise ambassadors at a young age against the alcohol and drug menace.
“This workshop will raise ambassadors who can speak out against alcohol and drugs in our communities. Young people who can see bars are open, and have the ability to say they will not go in, or even go in and remove a brother or relative who is in there,” said Pastor Dorcas.
She told of losing her relatives, and those of the family of the Deputy President, and the pain parents, siblings, and family members experience from the scourge of abuse. She said that this was why she was so passionate about the war against alcohol and drugs.
The workshop brought together pupils and students from primary, secondary, TVETs, colleges, and universities and also counsellors, teachers, lecturers, leaders, national administration officers and rehabilitation experts from Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Muranga, and Laikipia Counties, and also Nacada officers.
Some of the schools present included Kagumo High, Karatina Girls, Kanjuri Boys, and Tumutumu Girls among others.
Area MCA Jackson Kabingu pledged his support in the fight against alcohol, and drug abuse recognizing the great work in the nation by Pastor Dorcas in advocating and rescuing men from addictions. Also present were MCAs Julius Kamiri (Konyu Ward) and David Kabatha (Iria-ini ward).
“We support your fight against drugs, and it is important we work together,” said MCA Kabingu.
Nacada Officer Susan Maua said that alcohol abuse was the biggest challenge in the country. She also sympathized and warned the hundreds of pupils and students at the workshop, telling them that the abuse of prescription drugs was the biggest challenge in primary and high schools.
Vice Chancellor Karatina Linus Gitonga their goal was to touch the community with their research, and would focus on Mount Kenya region for their crisis response centre that had a toll free line, and would after the pilot-stage explore ways of upscaling it digitally.
Pastor Dorcas also spoke against drinking and driving, noting the numerous deaths caused along Langata Road, including many men imprisoned following the increased cases of defilement caused by drugs.
“Because of alcoholism and addiction, you will find young men in prison, HIV infected or bodaboda accident wards. Addiction results to cases of defilement, and as young men are imprisoned at a young age, for 20, 30, 40 years, their most productive years are behind bars, and they leave the correctional facilities as old men.
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