Drug abuse and alcohol consumption behavior and knowledge on its effects among secondary schools students in Dar es Salaam: the case of study of Temeke municipality

This study intended to assess factors influencing secondary school students engaging in alcohol and drugs abuse in Temeke. It also examined students’ understanding on the impacts of drug abuse and alcohol consumption as well as assessing strategies to be taken to overcome the problem. The study involved 200 targeted respondents who are ordinary level students, who were randomly sampled from 5 secondary schools in Temeke Municipality. However, the study ended up with actual sample size of 150 respondent because of poor response of students to answer the questionnaires, the researcher also involved 5 head of schools as key informants who were interviewed to provide data which were used to supplement quantitative data. With regards to available factors, findings revealed that majority of students involved in alcohol and abused substances consumption because of peer influence. Furthermore, parents and guardians’ behavior who are consuming the same substances reported as a reason for students’ engaging in such behavior. As the case on Students understanding on the impacts of alcohol consumption and drug abuse, this study found that majority did not understand its effect. It was also found that even those few students who responded that they knew its impacts, majority of them had inappropriate information on alcoholism and abused drugs consumption. With regards to combating strategies, head of schools pointed out several measures such as establishment of public campaigns against alcoholism and drug abuse, involvement of stakeholders to address the problem such as NGOs, and to prohibit all advertisement and promotion of alcoholic drinks and abused substances like cigarettes on mass media. Based on the findings, this study recommends establishment of public campaigns addressing the problem of alcoholism and abused substances not only to the students but also to the general population in the country. Furthermore, involvement of stakeholders such as NGOs and health institution in addressing the problem is also found useful. These stakeholders support in terms of developing teaching and learning materials in schools as well as out of schools programs.