Upsurge of drug use among university students in Kenya

• In Event: Roundtable session
  In Refereed Round-Table Session (English): Youth Issues in Secondary and University Education

Proposal

UPSURGE OF DRUG USE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KENYA: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES
Phellisters B. Nyakango
Roy Makori Mochama
Amos Ombiro Masese



Kenyatta University, Kenya

Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Kenya

Kisii University, Kenya

Email corresponding author phellistersnyakango@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Drug abuse is one of the world’s most pressing challenges threatening people of every age, socio-economic background, geographic region, educational level, and ethnic or racial identity. The most startling global trends that have emerged show increased availability and variety of drugs and the prevalence of drug abuse among the youth. Students manifest vulnerability to drug abuse. Because of their immaturity and tender age, they have yet to develop the strength to resist the thrill and the euphoria which the dangerous drugs offer. They have yet to uphold value and internalize the behavioral norms which could help them cope with the social and personal problems within the framework of socially, legally, and morally acceptable standards. Their defense mechanism against damaging influence of drugs is still inadequate (Caday, 2017). According to Vinluan (2005), drug abuse in our society is not new.
The Kenya vision 2030 envisions a healthy population free from the impact of drugs through reduction and prevalence in order to attain the highest possible level of physical, social and mental health. As a developing country, Kenya is currently experiencing major changes at different economic, political and cultural levels. Along with all these changes, the population is growing, and the number of young people is increasing. New studies by NACADA show a high prevalence of addiction to drugs and risky behaviors in the Kenyan youth population. Although massive resources are dedicated to preventing its spread, it is emerging that there is blatant abuse of drugs among students in universities.
A rapid situation analysis carried out by NACADA (2012) in all the provinces of Kenya established that 27% of young people including students who have ever abused drugs had friends who had taken similar drugs. While launching the second national conference on Drug and Substance Abuse: A Call for Action, organized by NACADA in 2013, to formulate measures to curb drug abuse; the President of Kenya, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta directed the National Treasury to allocate more resources for prevention and control of alcohol and drug abuse.
In the Philippines, research has shown that drug abuse is on the rise, and in particular it is increasing among young people. Drug abuse patterns among youth change rapidly with different drugs becoming popular. Drug abuse has also expanded to a younger and wider segment of the youth population. Millions of Filipino youths nationwide are using prohibited drugs. The drug abusers are mostly adolescents ranging from 17 to 28 years of age. This is the age at which the youth are expected to be in higher institutions of learning. Majority of them were males with a ratio of 12:1 compared to females (Caday, 2017).
The Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS 2011) noted that the problem of alcohol and drug abuse is dramatically increasing. According to the survey, different alcohols, chewing Khat and smoking cigarette are widely practiced among high school, college and university students in Ethiopia. Adolescent Alcohol and other drug (khat and cigarette) abuse may involve recreational benefits; such as to have fun, social conformity, mood enhancement and coping with stress (Kebede 2002). This is an indicator of a grim picture of abuse of drugs by the youth in Ethiopia. The practice of drug abuse seems to stem right from secondary school level to the university. A study by the Great Lakes University, Kisumu found in 2009 that 58 percent of the secondary school students in Kisumu District had consumed alcohol at some point in their lives (Daily Nation, June 2, 2009).
In respect to the above, the public has been exposed to a growing problem — underage boys and girls engaging in use of drugs and alcohol. In August 2017, 45 students found using bhang, alcohol and cigarettes were arrested in Nyeri as they were travelling in a Matatu to Nairobi when schools closed down for mid-term holidays. Though there was outrage, it soon died to be revived again by two disturbing cases in October same year. The first was in Eldoret town, Kenya where 500 children and teenagers were arrested in a disco and were also found to be smoking bhang, drinking alcohol and chewing miraa.
The purpose of this study was to examine the causes and consequences of the upsurge of drug abuse among university students in Kenya. Studies indicate a blatant abuse of drugs in alarming rates in spite of campaigns against the menace by the government and other stakeholders. This is affirmed by new studies by the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse which reveal a heightened rate of abuse and addiction among the youth. The study reviewed current literature in order to answer the research questions. This study will be of significance to university administrators who will use the research to come up with better policies on governance. The study will also help in formulation of policies to curb drug abuse. It was established that students abused drugs for various reasons among them stress related, stimulating the central nervous system, course load, stress, curiosity, peer pressure, individual and family factors, parental misuse of drugs, lack of knowledge, genetic factors, traumatic life events, socio economic status and macro-environmental factors. The abuse led to increases of problems related to their well-being and health, increased risk of injury and

Author

• JOSCAH KWAMBOKA MASESE, MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY