FACTORS INFLUENCING DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN KENYAN SLUMS. A CASE STUDY OF MOROTO SLUM MOMBASA COUNTY

Abstract

Use of cigarettes, marijuana, and other psychoactive drugs among young people is a global health crisis. The goals of this case study of the Moroto Slums in Mombasa County were to assess the extent to which peer pressure, illiteracy, drug availability, and family cohesiveness contribute to youth substance abuse, and to draw conclusions about the implications of these factors. The study employed a quantitative research approach to demonstrate correlations and cause and effect relationships vital to the constructs' viability, and the methodology was descriptive. One hundred persons were randomly selected from a pool of 200 residents of the Moroto Slums. A questionnaire was used to gather information from participants in the research. Validity and reliability of the research instrument were established by a pilot study. The collected information was put via SPSS analysis before being shown graphically.