The Culture of Drug Abuse and Substance Use as a determinant of Health Outcomes among Students in Kenya public Universities

Abstract

The culture of drug abuse and substance use among university students has become a global concern, considering the continued consumption of these illegal drugs and substances. Despite this understanding and worrying state of affairs, limited evidence on the health outcomes and how to curb the menace. It is on this basis that our paper applies an emic perspective in understanding the trends, dynamics and socio-health outcomes of drug abuse and substance use among university students. It is on this basis that our paper applies an emic perspective in understanding the trends, dynamics and socio-health outcomes of drug abuse and substance use among university students. The study employed a descriptive research design and was anchored on the social comparison theory. Data was collected through KoBo Collect tool and administered to 250 second year and third year university students. Ten (10) interviews were conducted with university students’ leaders. The data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study found out that drug and substance use culture at university is a norm to students. From the multiple responses, the respondents indicated that their parents ensured that they had the resources they needed to study and live comfortably at 84.6% and 78.9% respectively, but without putting into consideration effective strategies for monitoring their children’s activities while on campus. Most (76.3%) of the respondents indicated that drug abuse had effects to individuals, 64.0% to the society and (44.7%). The study recommends the need to adopt interventions aimed at promoting student’s well-being in the university setting, while protecting them from accessing illegal drugs and substances that are harmful to their health and wellbeing. It is also paramount to involve local structures, such as the Nyumba Kumi initiative to track the sources of illegal drugs and substances to students on campus and in the neighbourhoods, to ensure their prevention and control.