Thursday, 11 April 2013

THE 'NEW YOU' OVERVIEW

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Access to Employment and Education
Problematic alcohol and drug use is strongly associated with difficulties in gaining and retaining full employment. People who have had long term alcohol and drug problems often experience difficulty in entering or re-entering the employment market.
Problematic alcohol and drug use can also be associated with difficulties in finishing school or acquiring further qualifications. The absence of further qualifications can significantly hamper people’s ability to gain employment, or adequately paid secure employment.

Recommendations:
􀂙 Adequate resourcing of employment programs for people who have experienced alcohol and drug problems is needed to overcome this link between alcohol and drug use and poverty.
􀂙 Additional support for people experiencing drug and alcohol problems and the educational institutions they attend is needed to help keep people with alcohol and drug problems at school or in further study whilst seeking treatment for their alcohol and drug problem.



Health Costs
The cost of drug treatment, medical care, pharmaceutical drugs and pharmacotherapies for people currently receiving drug treatment or on pharmacotherapy maintenance programs can add significantly to the cost of living for people with alcohol and drug problems.
Legal and Financial Security
The illegal nature of some forms of drug use and the high rates of incarceration of people with alcohol and drug problems creates problems for those who are seeking to gain employment in areas which require police clearance, seeking a bank loan or relying upon a credit rating.


Recommendation:
􀂙 Enhanced funding of drug diversion programs for those convicted of non violent minor drug related offences is required in order to help break the cycle between drug use, difficulties in gaining employment or obtaining bank loans and poverty.



Access to Housing
A history of alcohol and drug use can often pose additional barriers for people seeking reliable and affordable housing. In turn, the absence of secure housing can create difficulties in gaining and retaining employment.
Recommendation:
􀂙 Housing assistance programs for people leaving drug and alcohol treatment programs are critical in ensuring that they can afford adequate housing.
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Emotional and Social Support
The breakdown of family and social networks experienced by many people with alcohol and drug problems adds to the risk that they will be affected by poverty as financial and emotional support networks are withdrawn.
Recommendations:
􀂙Ongoing resourcing of adequate support programs for people with alcohol and drug problems and their families and significant others is critical in ensuring that these ‘safety nets’ against homelessness and poverty can remain in place.
􀂙Resourcing drug and alcohol agencies to enable them to collect and analyse data relating to client profiles, drug trends and other relevant issues to inform future policy priorities.
􀂙Longitudinal research to explore causal links between alcohol and drug use and poverty.
People experiencing drug problems in accessing basic living needs include

􀂙Employment and Education
􀂙Health
􀂙Legal and Financial Security
􀂙Housing
􀂙Emotional and Social Support 
 






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The links between poverty, alcohol and drug use create a cycle of poverty and disadvantage which further compounds the difficulties experienced by people with alcohol and drug problems. This cycle creates additional barriers for people who are seeking to address their alcohol and drug use. It also degrades their quality of life of to a point where fundamental rights, like shelter and nutrition, are compromised.
Whilst the links between these issues are complex, it is clear that there are practical solutions to this problem. Intensive employment programs, adequate drug treatment and housing and support for the families of people with alcohol and drug problems are just some of the ways in which the links between poverty, alcohol and drug use can begin to be broken down.
Despite the enactment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010 some Kenyans still drink substandard beer, mostly spirits bearing witty names such as ‘Yokozuna’. Many have died in different cases of such with toxic chemicals which render others blind. There should be great vigilance and surveillance to see to it that Kenyans have access to proper manufactured alcoholic drinks to reduce the death toll.
Parents who influence their children to use alcohol and drugs should be mindful of the hang out joints they take their children for recreation. Some children get on with the behavior they see around causing psychological harm at an early age.
The NEW YOU INITIATIVE is geared up to see the attainment of Vision 2030. For this to happen, everyone should be part of the movement, we all have a role to play! 
 



Nelson N. Ngugi  -  +254 724 159 554

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