NACADA 2012
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) was established by an Act of Parliament on 24th July, 2012.
The Authority’s main focus is on demand reduction, which involves providing preventive education, public awareness, life skills, treatment, rehabilitation and psycho-social support to the general public. It also contributes towards supply suppression through policy formulation and capacity building.
The history of NACADA goes back to 1996 with the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Drugs Coordinating Committee under Gazette Notice of 12th July 1996. The Committee was chaired by Solicitor General while the Attorney General’s office provided the Secretariat.
Through a Gazette Notice of 26th April, 2001, the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) was institutionalized under the Ministry of Provincial Administration and Internal Security to initiate a public education campaign against drug abuse especially among the youth in schools and other learning institutions until May 2006 when His Excellency the President established a NACADA Advisory Board that now governs the Authority’s operations.
In strengthening the country’s response, the Agency was transformed to the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA Authority) under the State Corporations Act through Legal Notice No. 140 published in the Kenya Gazette of 29th June 2007.
Additional responsibilities that the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Act, 2012 gives NACADA are:
- Licensing and regulating operations of rehabilitation facilities;
- Facilitating the development and operation of rehabilitation facilities, and ensure that quality services are provided to persons suffering from substance use disorders;
- Preparing, publishing and submitting an alcohol and drug abuse control status report bi-annually to both Houses of Parliament through the Cabinet Secretary.
- Assisting and support County Governments in developing and implementing policies, laws and plans of action on control of drug abuse.
Vision
Nation free from effects of alcohol and drug abuse
Mission
To provide leadership on policy development, education, regulation, management, programme implementation and research coordination on matters pertaining to drug and substance abuse in Kenya.
