Influence of parental behavior on the prevention of drug abuse among students in public secondary schools in Nakuru west Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya.

Abstract

Drug abuse among the young people is an increasing problem in many countries.  There has been an increasing number of students under the influence of drugs in Kenya. Parental involvement can play a critical role on the prevention of this phenomenon that is now being practiced in many societies around the world. Available literature has indicated that parents have a significant influence on the prevention of drug abuse among many school going children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish the influence of parental behavior on the prevention of drug abuse among students in public secondary schools in Nakuru west Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya. To achieve this objective, the study adopted ex-post facto research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 302 participants from a target population of 2515. Data was collected using Parental Management Behaviour Questionnaires (PMBQ).  Data was collected using a self administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that parental behavior had a positive influence in the prevention of drug abuse among students. Therefore, the study concluded that there was influence of parental behavior on drug abuse among students in public secondary schools in Nakuru west Sub-county.  The implication of this finding was that  school administrators; teachers and counselors can organize school motivational programs which are specifically targeted at stakeholders.  From the findings of the study it is recommended that parents need to design strategies for effective communication with a purpose of preventing drug abuse.

KEYWORDS:  Parental behavior and prevention of Drug abuse

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-2-15