Publication:

Reasons for Drug Abuse, Addiction and effects on Academic performance among secondary school Learners in Kirinyaga County

Drug abuse is becoming an increasing problem in most of the secondary schools in kenyan. A number of studies carried out in the country show that almost every student 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. This study sought to establish the current trend of drug abuse among students in Kenyan secondary schools, and to analyze the causes of students getting involved in drug abuse. The study is a descriptive survey. In view of this, the field survey method was adopted to collect quantitative and qualitative data, using questionnaires and interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in data analysis, thus there was a mixed model research design approach to data analysis. The key findings from the study were that drug abuse among students is common; both boys and girls have abused drugs with the majority being in boys‟ schools; the greatest ratio of drug abusers to non- abusers among the sampled schools are aged between 16 and 20 years; there is a significant relationship between drug abuse and age, use of drugs by other family members and easy access to drugs. A variety of factors contribute to drug abuse with the majority of students citing curiosity, peer pressure and ignorance as to the dangers of drug abuse as the main reasons. Both the school administrators and teachers face a number of challenges in an attempting to curb drug abuse in schools.