| dc.description.abstract | Background
The practice of substance abuse in adolescence is one of the most degrading practice faced by the society. The overall abuse of opioids and deaths attributed to opioid misuse has continued to increase markedly in several countries like the U.S. and, among adolescents, the non- medical use of opioids appears to be increasing in the South and Midwest and in rural
communities with lower socioeconomic status. Also, among university students in some countries like Sudan, an overall prevalence of substance use of 31% was obtained and tobacco was the most commonly used with a prevalence of 13.7%. This is followed by cannabis with a prevalence of 4.9% and curiosity was found as the major reason for substance
use among the students (Osman T et al 2016).
Methods.
This will be a cross sectional study design employing quantitative methods. The quantitative approach was used on the data. Cross sectional study design because all the variables were studied concurrently and at a specific point in time
Results.
Majority of the study participants were males 52(68.4%) with a mean age of 24(19.72) with most of them being between the ages of 15-20 years. Different religious denominations were recorded by the different participants as we had Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, born again Christians and even those who don’t go to church. There is data from adolescents living with
both parents 23(30.3%), single parents 38(50%) and orphans 15(19.7%). Most of them live in an urban area, Kajjansi 64(84.2%) and a few from rural areas 12(15.8%). Students 46(60.5%) and non-students 39(39.5) took part in this research.
Conclusions and Recommendations.
The present study results directly suggest that the factors influencing substance abuse among adolescents in Kajjansi resonate among individual adolescents, circumstances surrounding them, and the environment in which adolescents find themselves.
Peer influence has been implicated as being at the peak of the prime factors affecting substance use among adolescents. Based on this revelation government, schools and communities should regulate peer networks that serve as a guide for substance use. | en_US |
