Pan- African Parental Drug Knowledge Index (PADK-INDEX)

The Pan-African Parental Drug Knowledge Index (PADK-Index) 2026 is the first continental assessment of parental knowledge, awareness, and preparedness regarding drug and substance abuse among children and young people in Africa. Conducted by Parent-Child Intervention Centre (PCIC) in partnership with the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), the study surveyed 2,267 parents and guardians across 20 African countries between March and April 2026. The report examines parental awareness of commonly abused substances, ability to identify emerging drug threats, sources of drug-related information, communication patterns with children, and readiness to participate in prevention initiatives. Findings reveal a significant gap between awareness of youth drug abuse and the practical knowledge required for effective prevention, particularly regarding substances such as Tramadol, crystal methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri), and emerging synthetic drugs. The PADK-Index establishes the first continental benchmark for parental drug literacy in Africa and provides evidence-based recommendations for parents, schools, governments, regional bodies, and development partners to strengthen child protection and drug prevention efforts across the continent.