Abstract:
As governments deploy immense resources to reign in on the trafficking and abuse of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and
cocaine, it remains untenable controlling the abuse of prescription drugs. This study set out to examine the relationship between
awareness of morbidity risk and psychosocial wellness of students in public secondary schools in Nairobi. Based on the situated
rationality theory, this study adopted the correlational research design. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively by use of
frequencies, percentages and means. It was also analyzed inferentially by use of t-test, Pearson correlation and multivariate
regression analysis. Data from interviews and secondary data sources were analyzed using thematic and content analysis
procedures. The study sampled 255 respondents. These included 100 students, 96 teachers, 42 principals and, 17 MOE officials.
Out of these, 100 students (100%), 77 teachers (80.2%), 34 principals (81%) and 11 MOE officials (64.7%) responded. The
findings show that prescription drug misuse is rampant among students, posing a threat not only to the kids who abuse the
medications, but also to the nation's well-being, as the youth represent the people's future. The presence of risk and protective
factors influences prescription medication addiction. Despite the fact that the students were aware of the risks associated with
prescription drugs they continued abusing them. This was buttressed by Pearson correlation showed that awareness of morbidity
risk had statistically significant relationships with psychosocial wellness among students (r=0.468, p<0.05). The study concludes
that drug usage is widespread among secondary school students in Nairobi County, in terms of the types, quantity, and frequency
of use irrespective of students’ awareness of the morbidity risks they posed. The study recommends that there was need to
enhance the awareness of morbidity risk associated with prescription drug use through awareness campaigns among other
interventions.
Keywords: Awareness of Morbidity Risk; Psychosocial Wellness; Students in Public Secondary Schools; Nairobi County, Kenya
