Analysis of factors that influence drugs and substance abuse among secondary school students in Imenti North District.

Abstract

Drug and substance abuse has continued to be an issue of great concern during the past several years with a great number of people reported as drug abusers in the world and being a serious problem affecting secondary school students. Drug and substance abuse has numerous biological, psychological and social adverse consequences. The menace has been reported as being influenced by different factors which include mass media, availability of drugs, peer pressure, curiosity, and availability of funds, boredom, harsh school rules and poor parenting. The study being carried out is aimed at analyzing the factors that influence drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in lmenti North District. The research objectives for the study were whether peer pressure, mass media, amount of money given to students and availability of drugs influence drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Imenti North. The target population was composed of 10,663 students from the 43 secondary schools in Miriga Mieru East and West divisions. Questionnaires were prepared and used in the collection of primary data from the deputy principals, teachers and students. Prior to administration, the questionnaires were pilot tested to facilitate validation and assessment of reliability. The data was analyzed manually at the end of which results were displayed using frequency distribution tables, percentages and pie charts. The study concluded that drugs and substance abuse was influenced by different factors. These were categorized into major and minor factors, the major factors included mass media, peer pressure, availability of. Drugs and the amount of pocket money given to the students. The study, therefore, recommends that parents and guardians should avoid giving a lot of pocket money to their children; the government should come up with ways to fight drugs found within the students' reach.