Factors Influencing Drug Abuse Among Secondary Students of Gulu Municipality.

Abstract

Introduction. Drug and substance use remain in existence the most risky behavior among students with physical, mental and socio economic effects. World health organization (2001) recognized that the use of substances by youths today globally has become a public health problem therefore this has resulted to a rise in the use of substances such as alcohol and tobacco by teenagers over the last decades. General objective of the study. To assess the factors influencing drug abuse among secondary students of Gulu municipality. Methodology This was a cross sectional study carried out in Gulu Municipality. Systematic sampling was applied to get the required number of students. A total of 250 participants were selected. Data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire and analysis done using SPSS and micro soft excel 2013. Results The results were generated from 250 participants; prevalence rate of drug abuse was 24% which is slightly high. In this study on Bivariate analysis, psychological factors associated with drug abuse were: attitude of student on drug abuse (X2 =8.12, P=0.032), stress (X2= 2.656, P= 0.020) and hopelessness (X2= 3.411, P= 0.016). Socio-economic factors with significant relationship were: sex (X2 = 12.807, P = 0.041), Age (X2= 3.134, P=0.046), employment status of father (X2= 3.712, P= 0.032), employment status of mother (X2=2.561, P=0.042), household size (X2=1.529, P= 0.021). Environmental factors associated with drug abuse were: accessibility of drugs (X=7.246, P= 0.048), Adverts (X= 1.438, P= 0.017). Conclusion. Drug abuse among secondary students is 24% which is slightly high Recommendation. Teachers training curriculum should be modified to incorporate school discipline studies particularly drug abuse in the curriculum. Guiding and counseling should be emphasized when enhancing student discipline by sensitizing the teachers and students on the importance of counseling. More and more teacher counselors should be trained in guidance and counseling. Democratically elected student council should be empowered to coach other students on schools norms and values hence strengthening peer counselling.