Drug Abuse, Its Causes and Effects in Primary Schools Within Tetu North Zone, Tetu Division, Nyeri District, Kenya.

ABSTRACT Guidance and counseling aims to cultivate mold and maintain a trouble free society. It deals with societal problems ranging from marital, academic, financial, career and professional, e.t.c. its benefits in the society cannot be overemphasized. The drug use and abuse monster has refused to leave our schools. There have been grisly acts by students where lives has been lost, property destroyed, dreams chattered and generations formed but this problem is still biting. This research paper investigates this problem with particular focus on Tetu Division in Nyeri. Data has been collected through questionnaires, interviews, observation, visits, calls, checklists, and then analyzed in tables and graphs. The data reveals that there is drug abuse in our schools. The commonly abused drug is bhang. However, it has been found out that many people do not regard cigarettes and alcohol as drugs. Cigarettes, bhang, chang'aa 'muratina' spirits (Kenya king, Kane Extra, Napoleon, Simba Cane, Safari cane), miraa are frequently abused by students. This has led to frequent strikes in our schools particularly secondary students are initiated into drugs as early as in primary school. Lack of positive role-models, exposure stress, family background, peer influence, lack of proper guidance and counseling, don't- care society are some of the causes of drug abuse