Substance abuse and crime among the youths in Makerere Kikoni, Kampala city

Abstract

The study examined various aspects concerning substance abuse and the increased crime in Makerere Kikoni. The persuasions of the youth getting involved in substance abuse are analyzed, the effects of substance abuse among the youth and how based various stakeholders and agencies can solve the problem of substance abuse among the youth in Makerere Kikoni. The study also examined the various types of substances consumed by the youth in Makerere Kikoni such as tobacco, oris, cocaine, hard liquor among others. Besides, the various factors that enact the youths to get involved in substance abuse were also analyzed and the main ones being peer pressure, access to the substances, addictiveness, and stress among others. Having analyzed the causes, the research examined the effects of substance abuse on the youth such as diseases like HIV/AIDS, brain deformation and others. Various solutions were also portrayed on how to deal with the problem of substance abuse such as creating proper programs for the youth to get involved and keep themselves busy rather than being idle. The results revealed that substances inform of alcohol such as beers and hard liquor like coffee spirit, torero, splendor, Empire, Sanyuka among others were the most abused. This was followed by tobacco, oris and cocaine. With all these substances, various measures were explained on how to deal with substance abuse. Despite of the fact that the researcher faced various limitations, recommendations were set up such as a similar research to be carried out but involving the interviewing of parents because some of them might be the reasons as to why the youth get involved in substance abuse. In regard to unwillingness to give information by the respondents, the researcher used possible methods of polite and persuasive language so as to access information and also giving assurance that the study was meant for academic purposes.