Stress, depression and substance abuse among school going adolescents in Kambuga Sub County, Kanungu District

Abstract

Substance abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs or alcohol for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used, or in excessive amounts. Substance abuse may lead to social, physical, emotional, and job-related problems. This study aimed at examining the relationship between stress, depression and substance abuse among secondary school adolescents in Kambuga Sub- County, Kanungu district. The research employed a correlational survey research design with a sample size of 100 respondents who were selected by use of simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by use of a self-administered questionnaire and was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results revealed that there is a significant relationship between stress and depression among adolescents; there is a significant relationship between depression and substance abuse among adolescents and lastly there is a significant relationship between stress and substance abuse among adolescents.