AWARENESS LEVELS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS; A CASE OF DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Abstract
This study examined the awareness levels of the consequences of drug abuse among Makerere University students. The study was qualitative in nature and it engaged participants and gathered the necessary information under the Department of Adult and Community Education at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
The findings of the study clearly indicated that students are surely aware of the consequences of drug abuse as they went ahead and gave different categories of drugs they use and these included cocaine, marijuana, ice/ crystal myth, alcohol, khat, mira, kuba, cigarrates among others. The participants also went further and discussed the different reasons as to why they keep the vice of drug abuse growing yet they know the consequence where some said they did it because they wanted to boost their confidence, for leisure (vibes), peer pressure, anxiety, addiction, stress and depression, society and so on. However, they were informed of the repercussions of drug abuse, which included affecting their attendance of lectures resulting into poor grades, death, damaging of internal organs such as the brain, lungs, liver, development of suicidal thoughts, infertility.
The findings of this study also indicated that there were multiple criteria’s/ pathways that could be adopted to overcome the effects of drug abuse such as forming peer groups (clubs), faith and religion, family influence, self –change, use of a substitute drug, counseling. The study also recommended different authorities such as Government, Universities, and Ministry of health, parents and communities to put in more efforts to formalizing access of victims to various pathways for recovery.