By: Philip Maate

Mainstreaming programmes to prevent alcohol and drug abuse (ADA) and support those affected is an essential plan for government performance contracting. Successful mainstreaming is made possible through implementing certain activities such as training and sensitisation of staff. It is in this spirit that a group of nine supervisors and managers at CEMASTEA participated in a joint training (Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA), Kenya Roads Board (KRB and CEMASTEA) conducted by the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). The training was held from 16^th to 18^th March 2022 at Mombasa Beach Hotel. The main objective of this training was to build the capacity of the managers and supervisors to understand and implement evidence-based interventions and help to prevent alcohol and drug use in the workplace.  

CEMASTEA staff and other training participants in a gallery walk

Some training contents included facts and statistics about commonly abused drugs, with alcohol coming on top as the most highly used drug in Kenya and worldwide. In another session, participants discussed and identified stressors at the workplace. Some stressors included ad hoc or unplanned activities, heavy workload and stagnation in one job group. It was noted that stressors are key triggers o of drug abuse. After the discussion, participants came up with remedies to the stressors. Two officers facilitated the training from NACADA, Susan Maua, manager of public education and policy and Miriam Medina, a senior trainer. Further facilitators led participants to identify components of substance use prevention programs and policies.