Impact Of Drug Abuse On Student Performance In Migori County. A Case Study Of Kuria Sub-County

ABSTRACT

Drug abuse is a general problem in Kenya today especially in areas where there is no adequate

supervision that is monitoring of students and effective usage of punishment for deviant

behaviours. The study took into consideration the following three objectives: To establish the

causes of drug abuse in Kuria sub-county. Examine the negative effects of drug abuse on

student’s performance in schools. To fmd out ways of fighting drug abuse in secondary schools

of Kuria sub-county. The study was conducted in Kuria sub-county, in Migori County. The

impact of drug abuse was the independent variable while the student performance was the

dependent variable. A large number of studies have tried to identify whether there are direct

and/or indirect causal links between consumption of addictive substances and poor educational

attainment. Most intuitively, alcohol and drug consumption may have some detrimental effects

on pupils’ cognitive abilities, for instance, by decreasing their ability to concentrate. The

research strategy for this research began by gathering and studying some background

information regarding the situation of drug abuse by secondary school students; thereafter the

research questions were decided and questionnaires designed for data collection purposes. The

study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis. The results are

presented in tables and in form of frequency counts and percentages. The results and discussions

are centered on the set objectives of the study. It was found out that drug abuse among students

is common and spells danger not only to the youth who abuse the drugs but also to the well being

of the nation, because the youth represent the future of its people. Based upon the literature

review and the study various recommendations for a prevention and intervention programme are

proposed to help address drug abuse among students in Kiria Sub County and the all country at

large. The recommendations addresses the role of parents, teachers, local government, media, and the government.