Gicuku, Njiru Virginia2016-04-062016-04-062014-08http://erepository.mku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/2932Drugs and substance abuse is one of the major problems affecting Secondary school students. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of drugs and substances abuse on performance in Kangundo district, Machakos county public secondary school students. Drug and substance abuse is not only a problem in Kenya but also a global one. Drugs and substance abuse has penetrated into learning institutions at a high rate, causing untold suffering to the students, riots, strikes, indiscipline and poor academic performance. This study was therefore expected to contribute information that could be useful in intervention measures that could be undertaken to prevent the use and abuse of drugs in secondary schools in Machakos County. The research was conducted in Machakos County whereby 12 public secondary schools were used. Random sampling was used to obtain a sample of two schools from every ward and twelve students from every school. In addition, purposive sampling technique was used to select four principals and four guidance and counseling teachers who served as key informants by filling an interview guide. Data was collected and analyzed by use of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) computer program and further presented in the form of frequency distribution tables and pie charts that helped facilitate description and explanation of the study findings.enSubstance AbuseProject