Street children and youth are at increased risk for substance use, particularly inhalant use. Due in part to their marginalized status, there are sparse quantitative data available about the prevalence and risk factors for substance use of street children and youth in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of substance use among street children in Kisumu, Kenya and their correlation with age and time on the street.

This study concluded that street boys in Kisumu have a high prevalence of substance use, particularly inhalant use. However, patterns of use varied significantly based on participant’s age and the length of time they had lived on the street. Data from this study demonstrates the need for interventions to prevent the initiation of substance use among street children in East Africa.