Treatment of Juvenile Offenders Involved in Alcohol and Drug Abuse at Juvenile Rehabilitation Institutions in Kenya: Success or Recidivism

Abstract

A regional survey on alcohol and drug abuse among persons with disabilities established that they were abusing alcohol and drugs as much as the general population. Juvenile offenders are a category of persons with disabilities in Kenya. Children with special needs elicit empathy; on the contrary, offending children are blamed for their actions, leading to a spiral of exclusions. For instance, the study on ‘alcohol and drug abuse among persons with disabilities in Kenya’ excluded juvenile offenders in their sample. There is a need therefore to study some aspects of alcohol and drug abuse among children identified as juvenile offenders. The objectives of the study were to find out the number of children abusing alcohol and drugs, the treatment offered, and effectiveness of the treatment. The study involved children and service providers drawn from four institutions. Mixed research approach was utilized. The research established that 17.7% abused alcohol and drugs; they received no specific treatment, and the levels of recidivism were high. The study recommends the creation of exit strategies that support and prevent recidivism; enhancement of capacities of service providers at rehabilitation institutions, and policies facilitating proactive post-institutional lives.