PREDISPOSING FACTORS INFLUENCING DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KINANGO SUB-COUNTY, KWALE COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

A report of survey on drug and substance abuse by NACADA revealed that 32.4% of people aged between 18-28 years have consumed alcohol or other type of drugs and substances. Majority of secondary school students are in the age bracket 14-22 years, the group that is most affected. Drug and substance abuse is partly responsible for the riots, strikes, destruction and burning of property in secondary schools. The prevalence rate of drug abuse in Kinango Sub County was 20.3%. The purpose of the study was to investigate predisposing factors that influence drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Kinango Sub-County, Kwale County. The objectives of the study were; to establish the effect of parental influence on drug and substance abuse, to determine the influence of peer pressure on drug and substance abuse, to establish the influence of the media on drug and substance abuse and to determine the influence of age on drug and substance abuse among secondary school students. Erickson’s theory on social development and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) helped in explaining the findings of the study. A survey research design was used to investigate the influence of the selected variables on drug and substance abuse among secondary school students. The study population comprised of all secondary school students, heads of guidance and counselling departments and deputy principals of secondary schools in Kinango sub-county totalling 4,964 people. 4 public secondary schools were selected through stratified random sampling to ensure gender balance. The sample size comprised of 4 deputy principals, 4 heads of guidance and counselling departments of the selected secondary schools and 384 students selected by random sampling. Data was collected through questionnaires for students and guidance and counselling teachers. An interview schedule was used to collect data from deputy principals. Validity of the instruments was ensured by using expert judgement of my supervisors. Reliability of the instruments was determined through a pilot study which was done to show the degree of consistence of the instruments, a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.817 was obtained. Raw data was edited to correct errors and omissions. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to make inferences and draw conclusions. This was done with help of SPSS version 23. The study established, from hypothesis one, that there was statistically significant influence of parental influence on drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Kinango sub-County, p ˂ 0.05. Similarly, from hypothesis two, the study established that there was statistically significant influence of peer pressure on drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Kinango sub-county, p ˂ 0.05. The study established, from hypothesis three, that there was no statistically significant influence of media on drug and substance abuse, p > 0. From hypothesis four, the study showed there was no statistically significant influence of age on drug and substance abuse in Kinango sub-county, p ˃ 0.05. Finally, the study found out that the age bracket 17-19 years had the highest number of students who have used drugs at least once. The researcher recommended that: parents should abstain from drugs because they are role models of their children; parents and teachers should guide students to avoid peers who abuse drugs; guidance and counselling should be strengthened in schools and all forms of drug advertising should be censored