A Study of the causes of drug abuse among students in selected secondary schools in Kisumu municipality, Kenya

Abstract

This study focused on drug abuse among secondary school students in Kisumu Municipality. It sought to find out the reasons why students abuse drugs. The sample was drawn from 10 public secondary schools. 15 form four students were picked randomly from each of the 10 schools. 10 head teachers and 10 Heads of Departments of Guidance and Counseling (one from each school) also participated in the study.

Data for this qualitative study was collected using a questionnaire which had both open and close ended questions. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicated that students abused drugs for varied reasons and the commonly abused drugs were alcohol, bhang, miraa, tobacco and KubeT. The majority of respondents believed that students abused drugs because of peer pressure. Respondents were in agreement that curbing abuse can be achieved through guidance and counseling by peers and people in authority. The study recommends that guidance and counseling be strengthened in schools to curb drug abuse among students and that strict disciplinary measures be enforced by teachers to curb the vice. Parental guidance on drug abuse is also emphasized and finally the government should take action on drug dealers who avail drugs to the students.