A study of drug abuse in public boarding secondary Schools in Nairobi.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out how students in public boarding secondary schools are able to access drugs while in school. The study also sought to investigate the role of teaching staff, non-teaching staff, parents and school neighbors in assisting the student's access drugs. The study also sought to find out where drugs are hidden once they are smuggled into the school compound and to establish the drugs abused by the students. This study also sought to establish the reasons for drug abuse by the students. Literature review in this study was organized under the following sub-headings: a brief history of drugs, drug abuse in learning institutions, myth or fact? Ways of accessing drugs and hiding places in boarding schools, classification of abused drugs and reasons for drug abuse. From the literature review, a conceptual framework was designed The study was ex-post-facto in design and the targeted population consisted of head teachers, teachers and students in public boarding secondary schools in Nairobi province. The research developed three sets of questionnaires as research instruments. SPSS was used to analyze data The research found out that some students in public boarding schools in Nairobi abuse drugs. The most abused drugs are alcohol, cigarettes, bhang and miraa. These drugs are readily available and are therefore easily accessed by the students. Other drugs that the students abuse include cocaine, tobacco, kuber, madrax, OeD and glue. According to research, the alcohol neighbours are the major source of drugs. The sources include the touts, neighboring kiosks, barber shops and cobblers. The people identified as providers of drugs to the students within the schools are the gatemen, cooks, matron, school messenger, school nurse, the school cateress, teachers and the shopkeeper at the schools canteen. The main entry point of drugs according to research is the school fence. The students get the drugs from the outsiders trough the school fence while the staff who provide the drugs pass the m on the student sin the pretence that they are school necessities. The research also found out that one the drugs are smuggled into the school compound, the students hide them in various places which include bushes or flower beds within the school compound, bags and boxes, in the ceiling, in between pillows and mattresses, in the socks, in their desks/lockers and in between the sanitary towels in the case of girls. The major reasons as identified by respondents for drugs abuse is peer pressure. The other reasons include parental influence, stress at home and in school, leisure/pleasure, to gain courage, curiosity and influence of the mass-media. All the schools included in the research study have rules and regulations that prohibit use and possession of any drugs within the school. The recommendations of the research include: a) Random physical check should be organized in the schools to flush out drug peddlers and users in schools b) Teachers and other staff members should not use drugs in the school compound c) Visitors to the schools should be monitored to prevent them from passing drugs to the students , d) Meetings for both parents and students should be organized to create awareness on the dangers of drugs abuse. The following research areas are suggested for further research: a) A replication of this study using a longer sample and wider scope of schools in the country in order to get an overall perception on drug abuse b) In order to explore further on drug abuse, a study on the effect of drug abuse on the performance of students can be carried out in other schools. c) A study on the effects of drug abuse on students behavior can also be carried out.