Photo used for illustration purposes only. Credit: PonyWang
Many Kenyan families are navigating complex issues around adolescent choices and the influence of substance use.
Across households, parents and siblings often find themselves struggling to balance guidance, discipline, and trust, while trying to ensure that young adults make responsible decisions for their education and future.
A concerned sister recently shared her experience in the Facebook group PARENTING GROUP, revealing how her younger brother, a Gen-Z youth who completed Form 4 in 2024, has been using bhang.
“He was supposed to join campus last year, but he told our parents he wasn’t ready,” she explained.
“That’s when I started noticing the smell in the house.”
The sister approached her parents to discuss her suspicions. Her mother admitted noticing the smell on several occasions but delayed confronting him.
“I was waiting until I had enough evidence before talking to him,” her mother reportedly said.
Despite parental intervention, the problem persists. “They talked to him to stop, and that was it,” the sister noted. “Now he waits until everyone is asleep and smokes in the guest room. I don’t know if I should tell my parents again.”
Her experience has sparked debate online about how best to handle adolescent substance use.
Many parents stressed the importance of clear communication and consistent consequences, while others suggested professional counseling for both the youth and the family.
“Families often underestimate the psychological impact on siblings who try to intervene,” commented one group member. “Older siblings can feel torn between wanting to help and being resented.”
Experts warn that repeated substance use in youth can affect both academic performance and mental health.
They emphasize early intervention, open dialogue, and, in persistent cases, structured support to prevent long-term consequences.
The sister’s dilemma—whether to stay silent or intervene again—reflects the wider challenges facing Kenyan families today.
Balancing concern, authority, and trust remains a delicate task, particularly when substance use strains relationships and complicates family dynamics.