Report on Glue Sniffing Amongst Children and Youth Living on the Streets of Nairobi to Be Validated

6 October 2008: A leading NGO that works to rehabilitate and reintegrate children and youth living and/or working on the streets will be holding a forum on Tuesday 7th October 2008 to validate the findings of a significant report on the prevalence of glue sniffing and inhalants among vulnerable children and youth in Nairobi. Undugu Society of Kenya (USK), which commissioned the report, has been working to rehabilitate and reintegrate these children for over 34 years. However, glue sniffing and inhalant abuse among these children has proven to be a major challenge and hence the rationale for the survey. Of an estimated 50,000 children living on the streets of Nairobi, USK estimates a majority of them are addicted to glue and/or some form of inhalant, making the problem very widespread. It is in this regard, that USK carried out a baseline survey between August and September 2008 to establish the prevalence of glue sniffing and inhalant abuse among children and youth living on the streets, as well as the physical and psychological effects of the substance on the user. Based on the findings, the report includes recommendations to state and non-state actors, which includes stricter laws and their effective enforcement against those who sell/supply glue and inhalants to children. It is USK’s belief that the report will strengthen interventions of key stakeholders in the children’s sector as they work against this problem  and in empowering and transforming the lives of these children. The Report will be validated on Tuesday, 7th October 2008 at the Silver Springs Hotel from 8:30am to 1:00pm. In attendance will be major stakeholders in the children’s sector, including Mrs. Jennifer Kimani, the National Coordinator of the National Agency for the Campaign against Drug Abuse (NACADAA), who will be the guest of honor and who will also deliver the opening remarks.  Once validated by stakeholders, the report will be widely disseminated in Kenya, regionally and internationally.