MOMBASA, Kenya—Poor parenting and lack of attention at home are contributing to the vulnerability of young people to drug and substance abuse, anti-drug activist and Reachout Centre Trust Executive Director Taib Abdulrahman has warned.
Abdulrahman said some parents have become increasingly detached from the lives of their children, making it difficult for them to notice behavioural changes or realise when their children have started using drugs.
He said a state of “caring less” among some parents is creating gaps that young people could fill by seeking acceptance, guidance and companionship elsewhere.
“Poor parenting and a state of ‘caring less’ from parents has led to many young people indulging in drug abuse, where the parent becomes the last person to realise that indeed their child is doing drugs,” Abdulrahman said.
He urged parents to become more involved in the lives of their children, saying providing food, school fees and shelter alone is not enough to guarantee their wellbeing.
According to Abdulrahman, children also need time, attention, guidance and parents who are willing to listen to their concerns without immediately judging or condemning them.
He said understanding children and creating an environment where they can freely discuss their challenges could help parents identify problems before they escalate.
“Listening and understanding your child is just but one way of knowing how to give them a better upbringing. Let us all acknowledge that times have changed and the current generation needs to be listened to and understood, because punishing may cause even more harm to an already complicated situation,” he said.
Abdulrahman said young people today face numerous social pressures and that parents should make an effort to understand their children’s friendships, ambitions, fears and daily experiences.
He called on parents to respond to mistakes with guidance and correction rather than rejection and condemnation, saying abandoning young people when they stumble could push them further into harmful environments.
“The future of our community begins in our homes,” Abdulrahman said, urging parents to raise their children with love, discipline, patience, understanding and good example.
He said the presence of parents in the lives of their children remains one of the most important investments in preventing social problems and building responsible future generations.
