Publication: An investigation into the causes of drug abuse & its Effects on academic performance among secondary School students in Segero zone, Uasin gishu county.
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2014-05
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the causes of drug abuse and their effects on students’
academic performance and the interventions required to alleviate the problem. There has been
an alarming increase in the number of children in Kenyan secondary schools engaged in drug
consumption and abuse. This sad situation has resulted in a myriad of social ills and is a
contributory factor in the diminishing standards of education in the country. Students who
abuse drugs are usually poor performers in school and eventually end up engaging in vices
such as crime once they are out of school. This study used Modified Social Stress Model which
was developed by Rhodes and Jason (1988) and modified by WHO to include the effects of
substances, the personal response of individual to the substances and additional environmental,
social and cultural variables. Many risk factors which are associated with drug abuse also cause
other anti-social behaviour (Hawkins et al 1988). There is evidence that adolescent drug abuse
is correlated with delinquency, teenage pregnancy, school misbehaviour and drop-out (Elliott
et al 1989). In Segero Zone, Uasin Gishu County students are dropping out of school due to
this menace. The study will benefit teachers, school administrators and parents in finding
solutions to the drug menace in schools. Descriptive survey research design was used in
conducting this study. The target population for the study was 1500 students in 3 secondary
schools in the zone. A sample size of 120 students (10% of the population), with 58 boys and
60 girls was selected from the 3 schools that were selected using stratified random sampling.
Purposive sampling was used to sample three head teachers from the selected schools.
Therefore, the total sample size was 123 respondents. A student’s questionnaire was used to
collect data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and mean
values. The study findings were interpreted and the findings presented using tables and
percentages. The tools were checked for their validity and reliability through a pilot study
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Education