Ann, Hamisi Nduku2016-04-052016-04-052014-05http://erepository.mku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/2418Drugs and substance abuse is one of the major problems affecting secondary school students. This problem impacts negatively on the academic, social psychological and physical development among the abusers. This study aims at establishing the role of family systems in the fight against drugs and substance abuse in public secondary school students in Yatta Sub County. Drug abuse is a major global problem. The study was guided by the following objectives: to establish the role of family systems in curbing drug abuse among secondary school students in Yatta sub county, Machakos County, to determine the effects of drug abuse among secondary school students in Yatta sub county,to investigate the main intervention measures in the fight against drug abuse in Yatta Sub County. In Kenya drugs and substance abuse is a major problem. Yatta Sub County is not spared by this problem; students are dropping out from schools due to this menace. Survey research design was used in the study. The study was carried out in Yatta sub County of Machakos County. The sub county has 30 public secondary schools with a total population of 8,120 students. The female students were 5120 and male were 3000.The study was carried out on 10 public secondary schools with a target population of 3480 students, from this accessible population the sample size was 348 students. Random sampling was used to select 10 schools and stratified random sampling to select the sample size of the student respondents. A representative sample was randomly selected from form one and four classes. A questionnaire was used to get information from the student respondents and an interview schedule was used for the Headteacher. The questionnaire and interview schedule was self administered to ensure confidentiality. Piloting was done for the purpose of establishing the reliability and the construct validity of the instruments. Reliability of the research instruments was assessed by the researcher by administering the same instruments twice to the same group of people. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The representation will be done through frequencies, percentages. The results will be significant as a base for evaluation on the influence of family systems in the fight against drug abuse among the students in secondary schools. It will also benefit educationist by highlighting impacts of drug abuse on students so as to design specific intervention strategies. Literature on drugs and substance abuse was reviewed so as to identify gaps of knowledge. The study was guided by social learning theory by Bandura. The study recommendations will be useful to the government and the society in general in dealing with the threatening trend of drug and substance abuse among students in secondary schools.enschool of educationProject