Socio-economic effects of drugs and substance abuse among youth in Mpererwe Sub-County, Kawempe Division, Kampala District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the socio economic effects of drugs and substance abuse among in Mpererwe sub-county, Kawempe division, Kampala district. The study specifically aimed to explore the relationship between criminal activities and drug abuse, and to find out how drugs and substance abuse influences the relationship between community and youths, to find out the influence of drugs and substance abuse on education among the youths as well as the relationship between drug and substance abuse and employment among the youths in Mpererwe sub county. The study used a cross sectional research design employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study covered 30 male and female youth‟s respondents (15-24). Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides for quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The study findings revealed a number of problems created by drugs and substance abuse among the youths in Mpererwe Sub County. These include gang violence, prostitution, robbery and excessive gambling. The study further highlights that anxiety, unemployment, depression, free will were some of the factors that promote drug use in the community while school dropout, antisocial behaviors, and poor performance were some of the effects of drugs and substance abuse on education. Finally, the study recommended the need to reinforce laws and policies on certain drugs like alcohol, marijuana as well as other drugs and substances. This will help to minimize the rate in which youths are abusing such drugs it will also reduce on the criminal activities that come along with abusing such drugs and the need to increase the age at which one is allowed to buy certain drugs as this will ensure that the sell and purchase of such drugs is done appropriately and the consequences of intoxication can be handled by the right age group.