Publication:

Effects of Drug Abuse on Education in Magumoni Division in Meru South District Tharaka Nithi County

Understanding the effects of drug and substance abuse among secondary school students is therefore important to addressing the persistent problem among secondary school students in Meru South district, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. This study therefore sought to investigate the effects of drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Magumoni division in Meru South district, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. It also adopted the social leaning theory Bandura (1977). The target population was 13200 respondents comprising of 359 teachers and 12841 students in 52 secondary schools within meru south district, Tharaka Nithi County. The accessible population was 2953 compromising of 52 deputy teachers,52 heads of counseling departments 12841 form three students. The sample size is 378 respondents derived from 9 secondary schools in the district. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods was used to obtain the sample. Data was collected using three sets of questionnaires administered to the deputy head teachers, head of counseling department and the form three students. Validity of the research was improved through the opinions and judgments of my university supervisors. Reliability of the instruments was improved through pilot study conducted in two secondary schools in Embu East district. Frequency counts and percentages was used to analyze the data by use of statistical package of social sciences (SPSS). Based on the findings, recommendations were necessary for increasing awareness on the effects of drug and substance abuse was made to combat drug abuse and addiction amongst secondary school learners.