Publication:

Effects of drug and substance abuse on learners’ perfomance in Public primary schools in Kieni East zone, Kieni district, Nyeri County-Kenya

Drug abuse is becoming an increasing problem in Kenya. A number of studies carried out in the country show that almost every Kenyan youngster at one time or another experiments with drugs, especially beer and cigarettes. The major cause of concern is that a significant proportion of these young people eventually get addicted posing a threat to their own health and safety, while creating difficulties for their families and the public at large into difficulties. This study sought to establish the effects of drug and substance abuse on learner’s academic performance in public primary schools in Nyeri County. The Modified Social Stress Model (MSSM) for understanding drug use and abuse guides this study. The model was developed by Rodes and Jason (1988) and modified by World Health Organization/Progamme on Substance Abuse (WHO/PSA) to include the effects of drugs or substances, the personal response of the individual to drugs and additional environmental, social and cultural variables. Research has shown that in order to prevent substance use and abuse, two things must be taken into consideration: factors that increase the risk of developing the problem must be identified, and ways to reduce the impact of these factors must be developed. The theory maintains that there are factors that encourage drug abuse called risk factors. Factors that make people less likely to abuse drugs are called protective factors. The key to health and healthy families is increasing the protective factors while decreasing the risk factors. According to this model, if many risk factors are present in a person’s life, that person is more likely to begin, intensify and continue the use of drugs, which could lead to drug abuse. The model identifies risk factors as stress (which could be due to the school or home environment, and adolescent developmental changes) and normalization of substance use which could be seen in terms of legality and law enforcement; availability and cost of drugs; advertising, sponsorship and promotion through media, as well as the cultural value attached to various drugs. In addition, there is also the experience derived from the use of drugs, which could be positive or negative. Drugs which produce positive effects are likely to be abused. The model also shows that the more protective factors are present, the less likely the person is to become involved with drugs. Protective factors are identified as: attachments with people such as family members, peers and institutions such as religion and school. In addition are skills, which refer to physical and performance capabilities that help people succeed in life and reduce incidents of drug abuse. Availability of resources, within the person or the environment, which help people meet their emotional and physical needs, are said