Effects of Drug and Substance Abuse on Academic Performance among Secondary School Students, Kauma Subcounty, Kilifii County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims at investigating effects of substance abuse in Kauma Sub County of Kilifi County of the Coast Province. The Purpose is of the study is to uncover the effects of substance abuse and its relation to academic performance in Secondary schools in Kauma, with the purpose of recommending how to address the Situation.

Methodology: The study involves Random selection of Schools and random filling of questioners by learners and Teachers. It was pegged on Uri Bronfenbrenner’s’ Ecological Contextual Theory (1979). Which denotes that behavior is controlled by ecological environmental systems that affects positively or negatively the personality of man culminating to the totality of one’s character.

Findings: The research found that the cultural norms of Disco Matanga has greatly contributed to Palm wine (Mnazi), Muguka/ Ghat and Marijuana abuse. Efforts by the Presidency to address the issue and stop the vice has met stiff resistance from locals and politicians for their own motives which were not captured in this research. The research also found that 70% of Secondary school students scored D plus and below in National Examinations.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The research recommends collaborative efforts on addressing drug abuse in secondary school students and the use of Faith based organizations , academic institutions, Intercountry – National and NGO  approaches in Guidance and Counselling with emphasis to co-curricular and art therapies to first educate and inform the population on the effects of drug Abuse, the economic strain on both county and national government on rehabilitation and apply the multi sectorial approach to scaffold the emotional, mental, physiological effects on health and academics with subsequent methods to address the issue including further research studies..