Reflecting on National Substance Use Prevention Week 2026: Strengthening Our Communities

CategoriesMental Health News Strengthening Organizational Reach Influence & Impact By 0

The National Substance Use Prevention Week came to a successful close on February 13th, 2026. At Saint Martin CSA, this week served as a milestone for our ongoing efforts to build a healthier community.

All the activities conducted during this week were made possible through our project, Promoting Alternative Approaches to Drug Education and Substance Use (PAADES) and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our donors, FAI, whose support and partnership have been instrumental in bringing this project to life and making these impactful engagements possible.

Dennis Wanjala sensitizing the community on substance use prevention
Dennis Wanjala sensitizing the community on substance use prevention
Students from Bishop Louis Senior School following a talk on substance use prevention
Students from Bishop Louis Senior School following a talk on substance use prevention
Students from Laikipia University participating in am awareness raising walk organized by St. Martin CSA and NACADA
Students from Laikipia University participating in am awareness raising walk organized by St. Martin CSA and NACADA

Strengthening Community Awareness

To mark the end of the National Substance Use Prevention Week, we hosted a community workshop in Boiman, a town neighboring Nyahururu. The primary goal was to strengthen local awareness and prevention efforts against alcohol and substance use.

A significant portion of the workshop focused on training Community Health Promoters (CHPs). As trusted voices within the community, these promoters were trained on:

  • The Stages of Addiction: Understanding how substance use develops and progresses.

  • The Mental Health Link: Recognizing the deep connection between substance use and mental health disorders.

By equipping CHPs with this knowledge, the PAADES project enhances their capacity to identify early warning signs and champion prevention strategies at the household level.

Key Highlights of the Week

We reached a diverse group of stakeholders across Nyandarua County:

Educators were trained on alternative, evidence-based approaches to drug education, moving away from traditional methods to more effective, engagement-led strategies.
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Community Health Promoters trained as frontline champions to bridge the gap between families and professional support services.
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We held an engaging forum with students from Ndururumo High School and Bishop Luis Senior School, focusing on empowerment and making healthy life choices.
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Students at Laikipia University gearing for an awareness raising walk

The Power of Prevention

The PAADES project believes that addressing the root causes of substance use before treatment and rehabilitation is crucial.

Our focus remains on early intervention and community empowerment to ensure that our youth have the resilience to navigate these challenges.

Although Prevention Week has come to an end, we remain dedicated to empowering communities to build resilience and create brighter futures for generations to come.

Are you curious about the economic cost of substance use? Read our blogpost to see why prevention matters.

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