Influence of drug and substance abuse on boys’ and girl s’ transition rate from primary to secondary schools in Kitui central sub - county

Abstract

Drug and substance abuse has continued to ruin both boys and girls despite the various measures taken to minimize it by the NACADA. The study sought to establish the kinds of drugs and substances abused by boys and girls which influence transition from primary to secondary schools. It also sought to examine the reasons as to why boys and girls abuse drugs and substances in Kitui Central Sub - County and the influence of drug and substance abuse on boys and girls academic behavior on transition rates from primary to secondary schools in Kitui Central Sub - County. It also suggested the possible solution o f minimizing drug and substance abuse of boys and girls which influence transition rate from primary to secondary in Kitui Central Sub - County . Literature review rela ted to the topic was done. It was organized under the topics including; history of drug and substance abuse, causes of drug abuse in Kenya, drug abuse among students in school s , effects of drug abuse on the individual and on boys and girls transition in ed ucation from primary to secondary school. The study employed survey research design. The sample consisted of forty students and si x teen guidance and counselling teachers. In total fifty six respondents were sampled. Simple random sampling procedure was use d to selected boys and girls from class eight and form one to form four. Data was collected with the help of questionnaires. It was also organized and prepared for analysis ; by coding and ent e r ing in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). It was then found that majority of the boys and girls abuse drugs to feel high. Both boys and girls a re also driven into taking drug and substance abuse by virtue of peer pressure. It was also noted that p oor performance is the greatest effe ct of drug abuse among boys and girl s. T his was also accompanied by anti - social behavior developed as a result of drug abuse. I n the event of finding possible solutions of curbin g drug abuse, expelling boys and girls (dr ug abuse rs) was proposed as the secon d best option. However, boys and girls were observed to do little efforts in curbing the problem among them. It was agai n st such backdrop that the study recommended for guiding and counselling session to be effective in changing stude n ts ’ behavior.