Assessment of Substance Use Prevention Programs among Undergraduate Students in Selected Universities in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to assess the substance use prevention programs among undergraduate students in selected universities in Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives: to establish the current levels of substance use among undergraduate students in both public and private universities; to examine the extent to which awareness of substance prevention program has reduced substance abuse among undergraduate students in public and private universities, to explore the prevention program and activities among the undergraduate students in selected public and private universities and to assess the challenges that face the prevention programs among undergraduate students in public and private universities in Kenya. The study is based on Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura. The research design used in this study is descriptive design. This study used probability sampling procedure to select the sample. The study used questionnaire and interview guide for data collection. A pilot study was carried out in two other universities within Kiambu County who did participating in the actual study. A test-re-test was used to determine the reliability of the instruments. The validity of the instrument was established with close discussion with the experts at USIU. To administer the questionnaire, permission and authority was sought from all the relevant institutions. All quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential statistics was computed to test the association between the dependent (reduction of Substances) and independent variables (preventative strategies). The study revealed that 77.8 percent of the students disagreed that from the time the program on creating awareness about substance use started, drug and substance abuse has reduced among students. The study also revealed that 71.1 percent of the students agree that every semester the university organizes workshops on substance use. The study revealed that, 86.7 percent of the students agreed that the university had life skill training with all the peer counsellors and the counsellors attesting to this fact. The study also revealed that 71.1 percent of the students agreed with the existence of drug abuse prevention club. The study also established 66.7 percent of the students disagreed with availability of personal development information on coping skills that were taught in classes by the lectures. The study established that 76.7 percent of the students agreed that availability of drugs at local shops and streets was a challenge facing the prevention programs. It also established that from 72.2 percent of the students agreed that corruption affected the preventive programs. The study concluded that students were abusing alcohol, bhang and tobacco as their first drugs of choice. The drugs were used weekly, daily and twice month by most of the students. The persons who introduced the students to the drug of choice were university friends and high school friends. The drugs were used weekly, daily and twice month by most of the students and were introduced to the drugs of choice were university friends and high school friends. Creating awareness among students had positive impact on student‘s behaviour towards substance use and helped students to stop, reduce and avoid substance use. There was lack of support during implementation of the university policy and programs by university staff. The study recommended that students need to be informed when joining university on the effects of the drug of choice. Substance use program should be supported by the local community as well the university management and staff through proper implementation and support of the substance use policy.