The Impact Of Drug Abuse Among The Youth In Kenya: A Case Study Of Mombasa County

Abstract

In the contemporary society more and more adolescents are experimenting using drugs. In Kenya, reports of young peoples’ lives ruined by alcohol and drugs are rampant. The youth, especially, are vulnerable to the vice owing to peer pressure, media influence, poor guidance and role modeling. The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of drug abuse among the youths in Mombasa County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse among the youths in Mombasa County; to establish the causes of drug abuse among the youths in Mombasa County, to investigate the impact of drug abuse among the youths in Mombasa County and to propose possible solutions to drug abuse among the youths in Mombasa County. The study utilized descriptive survey design, where the sample of 10% of the total population was selected and a sample size of respondents was obtained for the study. Quantitative research approaches were used to collect information. Stratified random sampling was used to select the sample that represented the whole population. Questionnaires and observation check list were used since they make easier to collect data from the respondents. Data was collected and arranged by coding and editing into manageable proportions and entered into the computer by use of Microsoft Excel spread sheet computer programs. The presentation of the study findings was in form of tables, bar graphs and figures where necessary. In summary of the findings, it was found that majority of respondents indicated as the majority that many youths take drugs. The majority that the main sources of abused drugs comes from slum areas. Respondents indicated as the majority that area chiefs are supposed to be involved in drug eradication. The study concluded that there are drug problems in many slums within Mombasa County and many respondents said that drug problem in their estates was an escalating issue. Generally the prevalence of drug abuse was estimated to be high an issue that was triggered by stress and poverty level within the slums. The study recommended that the county government in charge of dugs control, the NACADA, NGOS, CBOs, FBOs, teachers, politicians and local leaders should come up with amicable strategies that can enable the youths understand the effects and dangers associated with drugs and substances abuse.