An Assessment Of Drugs And Substance Abuse Amongst Students Of Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assessed the issue of drugs and substance abuse amongst students of Maasai Mara University. The study aimed to address the problem of drugs and substance abuse amongst the students. In the study, there were three objectives which the study intended to achieve which were: to examine the various causes of drugs and substance amongst students in Maasai Mara University, to evaluate the effects of drugs on the performance of students in Maasai Mara University and to examine the various solutions on drugs and substance abuse amongst students in Maasai Mara University. The issue of drugs amongst students is a serious problems which have contributed to truancy, poor performance in academics, increased level of criminality and conflict among the students which need to addressed. The study will be of significance to various stakeholders in the University as there will be informed reduction in the level of criminality amongst students like theft, also there will be good relations between the students and the administration and the issues of disciplinary actions like suspension and expelling of students will be minimal. The limitation of these study is that there are other crimes in the society that the research could have addressed but the study will be limited to drugs and substance abuse. This is because, the issue of drugs being the core issue prompted the need for the research. In the literature review the causes of drugs and substance abuse were addressed in details, their effects as well as the possible. Also, two main theories have been addressed namely: the genetic or biological theories and the sociological theories to explain the causes of drugs and substance abuse. The conceptual framework shows, by the use of a diagram, the relationship between the independent, intervening and dependent variables. Under the research methodology, the site of the study is in Maasai Mara University. In the research design, the descriptive study design was adopted with an aim of achieving the objective of the study. The target population are the students and the key informants being the dean of students and the students’ leaders as per the sample size. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used to collect information where questionnaires, interviews and other secondary data like books were also used. A pilot study was conducted with 10% of the sample size which also assisted in testing the validity and reliability of the research instruments. The data collection process also took into consideration the ethical consideration of the respondents when collecting data. The data obtained was analyzed using percentage and subsequently presented in the form of tables, pie charts and bar graphs for easier interpretation. This study found that most of the students were engaging in drugs and substance abuse which greatly affects their academic performance, their health and their relationship with the University administration and also their fellow students. Thus, the study recommended that; various drug prevention programs be used in order to reduce this problem. Also, counselling and rehabilitation centers should be upgraded and others set up. There should also be drugs awareness and campaigns in the University on problems related to the use of drugs by the students in the Maasai Mara University.