PURPLE DRANK: Cough Syrup craze slaying 'rich' varsity students

It is an open secret that while most public universities are battling with never-ending lecturers’ strikes and deplorable learning facilities, some private universities are struggling to contain students abusing drugs with abandon.

This past weekend, Hashtag sought to find out just how menacing the drug problem is by fishing around United States International University-Africa (USIU), the institution mentioned as most affected by this scourge.

The glaring thing we noticed as we approached the entrance of Eastern Africa’s oldest private secular university was the presence of two bars barely a stone’s throw away. These high-end, well-decorated, and colourful bars seem to seduce students with their strategic location.

Oddly enough, their presence according to our contact, who prefers to remain anonymous, is welcome because it has reduced the number of ugly incidents amongst student party-goers who would otherwise party in bars other than the two that are a staggering distance away. The contact explains that business majorly booms on Thursdays especially in the days before sale of shisha was banned. Business is booming to the point that other high-end bars as far Roysambu and are feeling the pinch of competitive business.

According to the Chairman of Commission for University Education (CUE), Professor Chacha Nyaigotti, the commission has rules and regulations which do not allow universities to operate closely to bars and related social amenities that would hinder smooth learning activities.

“We have no law but guidelines that disallow university institutions to operate in the same premises with these social amenities. If an institution is located in an area of social clubs and bars, we would not allow such situations to happen” says Professor Chacha.

Student peddler

A casual chat with our contact yielded that most private universities are affected by drug abuse, a situation that the administrations’ are aware of but seem unable to contain. While alcohol, khat, cigarettes and marijuana remain some of the abused drugs at the institution, Purple Drank seems to be the new wave for the millennial ‘cool kids. Through their contact, we set out to find out just how easy it is to purchase the new craze that is Purple drank. Play-acting as customers, we set up a meeting with a student peddler via a text message.

“Hahahahahahaha form ni gani? Codeine is Sh600 but most of the chemists around stopped selling it. It’s called Benylin with codeine red. Buy for me also,” the student peddle texted back.

Within minutes, we spot the peddler familiar with our contact walking in the company of two other ladies along USIU road. With a back-pack slung on his back, half-full bottle of soda and a scarf loosely wrapped on the neck he passes for a regular student. After introduction, the team agrees to wait at the student’s residential hostel located in Roysambu while the two accompanying females are sent to purchase codeine in a chemist in the area. ‘New’ customers are not embraced by chemists unless introduced by ‘old’ customers who vouch for them.

As the team waits for the girls to return, the student peddler takes the team to the supplier in an apartment nearby for marijuana. The team remain outside the door as the student peddler negotiates the price with the supplier. Shortly, they come to a deal just as the team realizes that the supplier is a soft-voiced lady. As they depart the suppliers’, talk shifts to how Kibra and Eastleigh have been their main depots where suppliers pick their merchandise, grade them, before sorting them out for the market. One roll of bhang goes at Sh100 and the student population has ensured steady sales.

The student’s single room is clear evidence of drug abuse unable to rid itself of the distinct of marijuana. As he struggles to wrap his weed in a Rizla rolling paper, the team cannot help but take note of a bag full of used codeine containers stacked in a corner.

“I prefer Codeine to alcohol because it assures me a peace of my mind compared to alcohol or any other drink. I mix 100ml with about one litre of soft drinks that can take me all through a day. It is a cool drug that relaxes my mind despite its side effects that include general drowsiness, loss of appetite and resultant body weight loss. To rid me of the drowsiness, I prefer mixing the concoction with a prescription drug for people with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) called Ritalin,” says the student peddler before he proceeds to light up and shares it with the two ladies who have since returned. According to the students, the ‘high’ caused by codeine cannot be compared to any other drink.

“I cannot attend classes while sober. Should I miss a hit, probably due to being broke, then school takes a back seat,” adds the student peddler who admits to have had a rehabilitation stint that did him no good.

Notorious trap houses

According to our student contact, USIU-Africa gives first priority of on-campus accommodation to international on first come, first served basis. Majority of its students are left to seek accommodation outside university premises. Principal Marketing and Communications Officer at USIU, Mr Dan Muchai, asserts that the University recommends three hostels for the students away from the on-campus hostels. This is recommendation is based on availability and quality delivery and availability of services.

He, however, admits that most students opt for the hostels that are not recommended. Asked whether USIU was grappling with drug abuse, Mr Muchai stressed that the administration has put in place drug control measures.

“This is a loaded question that as per now I can’t tell because USIU has not completed its survey about drug abuse. Alternatively, I can get you the contacts of the counseling department for actual statistics,” says Muchai.

Our investigations identified several privately owned hostels around the area that have had a history of hosting ‘trap houses’, houses where drugs can be sold and consumed. From our inquiry, Penile Hostels popularly known as ‘Blue and White,’ towers above the other Topace and Dishon hostels.

“With a capacity of over 209 rooms, Blue and White is not among the recommended and approved hostels by the University to the students but students prefer it due to its cheap rental charges,” explains our contact.

The landlord has been trying to change the reputation of the hostel. In fact, our contact pointed out several empty rooms whose owners were forced to vacate by the landlord. Despite the drug and awareness talk conducted during the orientation day, many students we spoke to find themselves caught in the drug abuse cycle sometimes even through the volunteers who orient them.