Status of Drugs and Substance Use among Secondary School Students in Kenya

Abstract

Early initiation of substance use increases the risk of future substance use disorders and other negative outcomes. This study conducted between March and June 2016 explored the secondary students’ drugs and substance use behaviour and related risk factors. Using a sampling frame of schools registered with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 77 secondary schools were randomly sampled. A total of 3,908 students (60% male and 40% female) in all the eight regions of Kenya were interviewed. According to the study findings, the age of initiating the different drugs and substances of abuse among secondary school students was 13 to 15 years. Data also showed that alcohol (23.4%) was the most commonly used substance of abuse by students followed by khat / miraa (17.0%), prescription drugs (16.1%), tobacco (14.5%), bhang / marijuana (7.5%), inhalants (2.3%), heroin (1.2%) and cocaine (1.1%). Among the risk factors associated with drugs and substances of abuse among secondary school students were: being male; being in upper classes; having a family member or friend using drugs or other substances of abuse; and knowledge of a schoolmate using drugs or other substances of abuse. The findings therefore concluded that the secondary schools in Kenya were not drug free environments and therefore there is need to entrench life skills in the school curriculum; enhancing parenting skills and positive role modeling; and capacity building of guidance and counseling teachers to effectively deal with the challenges of students’ drugs and substances of abuse.