The levels, trends and patterns of drug addiction in Nairobi secondary schools

Abstract

In this psychological study, a survey has been made of the levels, trends and patterns of drug addiction in Nairobi secondary school. The population selected for this study consisted of form four secondary school students (N=800), their class-teachers (N= 100) and head-teachers (N= 20). The subjects and their schools were all selected using the stratified random sampling technique, a facility which was found absolutely necessary as the study's foundation rested on the various school strate identified in the study area. The tool selected for data collection was a set of questionnaires, developed for students and teachers respectively. These questionnaires covered all the broad dimensions set by the study's hypotheses. Due to the nature of this research, the technique chosen for data analysis was the chi-square (X) method. All tests of significance were done at the alpha (X) level of 0.05. Where applicable, the Yates's correction for continuit was employed. In the study of the relationship between sex and age in drug use, the relatively high prevalence of drug use among male students was associated with the general male tendency to 'drift' to drugs irrespective of age. Curiosity was found to play a prominent role in ,male drug use, with the chief motivation agents being identified as the subject's friends and peers. Drug use among female subjects was found to be linked to specific precipitating factors, for example, adolescence-related crises. It was iferred from the data the the majority of female drug users tended to be in the early adolescence stage of physical development. on the relationship between school category, sex and age in drug use, day-scholars were found to be more prevalent in drug use relative to boarders. The main reason for this was the close contact between the potential drug user and the drug source (shops, peddlers and pushers). Significant differences were also foun in drug use between subjects in single-gender and co-educational secondary schools. The research data also revealed a high prevalence of drug use in privately-maintained schools relate to government-maintained and unmaintained schools. These differences were attributed to the existing disparitis between school disciplinary syste. In the establishment of the relationship between the sex of drug user and the pattern of drug use, it was determined that no difference existed between the number of male and female subjects who had used drugs on an experimental, casual of regular basis. One of the implications of this observation was that the majority of the drug experimenters would eventually become casual and regular drug-users.