Substance use and abuse among offenders under probation supervision in Kenya: a case of offenders under probation supervision in Limuru

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the prevalence of substance use and abuse, factors that influence the substance use and abuse, and the effects of substance use and abuse among offenders under probation supervision in Kenya. It focused on offenders under probation supervision in Limuru District. The research design adopted for this study was descriptive. The target population of the study was the offenders under probation supervision in Limuru, from which a sample was selected through stratified random sampling. 66 male and 18 female offenders were sampled; data was obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire and two standard tests of substance abuse. This was piloted and amended prior to administration to the respondents. Chiefly quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics was undertaken on the data collected.

The study revealed a substance use rate of 64.6% i.e. for users of both alcohol and other drugs. There was a larger proportion of alcohol users among the sampled population 58.2% compared to drug users who were 32.9%. Prevalence of both alcohol and drug use was lowest among the female population; only 15% of the current alcohol users were female. Similarly only 3.8% the current drug users were female. The most commonly used alcoholic beverage was beer used by 67.4% of the current users of alcohol. Hard liquor followed at 23.9% with chang'aa and traditional brew trailing at 2.2% and 6.5% respectively. Further 2 types of drugs were found to be favored by the drug users i.e. cannabis sativa (bhang) and miraa. Bhang was favored by the majority of drug users i.e. 73.1 % with the balance of 26.9% preferring miraa.

71.7% of the current alcohol users reported some level of problem with alcohol as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, 34.8% reported harmful or hazardous drinking while 36.9% reported dependence on alcohol. 26.9% of the drug users reported a low level drug use problem, 46.2% reported a moderate level problem, and 23.1 % reported a substantial level problem. Only 3.8% reported a severe level drug use problem. The alcohol problem was more prevalent among the age brackets of (26years and above) among the male respondents.

Among the female respondents prevalence was highest among the (19-35years). Among the male respondents the drug use problem appeared to be concentrated in the age bracket of (l4-25years). Among the female respondents prevalence was negligible with only 1 respondent in the age bracket of (l9-25years) reporting a moderate level drug use problem. Conflict in the respondent's homes, substance use by respondents' parents' and respondent's employment status were found not to be' related with either alcohol or drug use. Substance use by the respondents' siblings was related to alcohol use but not drug use by the respondents. Longer duration probation sentences were found not to have the anticipated protective effect against both alcohol and drug use by the respondents. 25.5% of the substance users reported to have suffered medical problems due to their substance use while 19.6% reported to have lost jobs at some point due to substance use.

Only 17.6% reported to have engaged in violent behavior due to their substance use and only 15.7% reported to have engaged in risky sexual behavior due to substance use. Contrary to expectation only 13.7% engaged in illegal activities to obtain money to fuel their substance use behavior. On the other hand 39.2% of the substance users said that their substance use had a role in the commission of their current offences. The study recommends 'intervention in the form of substance abuse counseling and rehabilitation to address the substance use and by extension reduce recidivism. Such intervention should incorporate measures geared towards overcoming external influence from persons such as friends and siblings. It should also be geared towards character formation and the inculcation of moral values that exalt self control and abhor the reverse. Finally the study recommends appropriate programs that mitigate the effects of substance use. This is especially with regard to effects of a medical nature that include treatment and control of communicable diseases.