Abstract:
Drug and substance abuse is one of the major problems affecting students. This problem impacts negatively on the academic, social psychological and physical development among abusers. This study was aimed at establishing the perception of students on drugs and substance abuse and how their perception would influence their behavior towards drug abuse. Perception involves psychological process that allows students to attain meaning to information and then exhibit certain behavior.
The study was carried out in Maasai Mara University Narok County. A questionnaire was used to get information from the student respondents and was self-administered to ensure confidentiality. This perception was formed through their immediate environment that is peers and media.
This study recommends that the schools and the government should address the issue of drugs and substance abuse at all levels of development of a person. This is because perception starts to be formed at a very early age. This should be through counseling and drugs awareness centers in the country. Media should be used to address the same issues due to its influence on the youth.
