Role of Guidance and Counseling in Addressing Commonly Used Forms of Cannabis among University Students in the South Rift Region of Kenya

Abstract

According to the World Drug Report (2005), the use of illicit drugs has increased throughout the world in recent years. The report further states that a major world trend is the increasing availability of many kinds of drugs to an ever-widening socio-economic spectrum of consumers. In Kenya, cannabis has been found to be the most widely used narcotic drug. According to a study done by NACADA (2015) it found that use of narcotics especially bhang was very high among the youth and the problem was endemic across the country. This study was guided by the following objectives: to find out the forms of cannabis used frequently by university students in the South Rift Region of Kenya and to investigate the role of guidance and counselling in managing the commonly abused forms of cannabis use. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the role of guidance and counselling in addressing commonly used forms of cannabis. The theory guiding the study was the Social Cognitive Theory of Bandura (1961). Quantitative data was collected through a structured questionnaire while qualitative data was collected through interviews and focused group discussions. The population of the study consisted of 13,603 students in five universities in the south rift region of Kenya. The sample was identified using random and purposive sampling techniques. The data obtained was analysed by use of descriptive statistics using frequencies, means and standard deviations and inferential statistics using Pearson Correlation Coefficient and multiple regression. The study unveiled four consumption methods common with the youth and that includes: smoking, vaping, dabbing and vaporization. It was found that the most common method of consuming cannabis is through smoking. The results of the study showed that guidance and counselling has not played a significant role in addressing the most commonly used forms of cannabis (r=0.485 and p=0.490). It has contributed 11.2% in handling the different forms of cannabis used by the students. The study recommends that guidance and counselling services should be strengthened to address the most common forms of cannabis used by students. There was also need to initiate prevention and interventions of drug use in primary and secondary levels so as to address the root cause of the problem and students who are affected should be identified and supported through guidance and counselling.  Lastly, there is need to introduce compulsory courses that reflect new emerging trends of drug use in institutions of higher learning.

Keywords: Guidance and counselling, commonly used forms, cannabis, university students

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-3-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2023