Family:
Most parents are against drug abuse and respond in various ways towards drug abusers. On realizing that their child is abusing drugs, parents generally become very hostile towards the child and all his/her friends. They become extremely harsh and cruel to the abuser. Unfortunately, this merely prevents open dialogue with the child and does nothing to control abuse. It limits honesty and may fail to address the causes of abuse. Some parents, on the other hand, are more receptive in their response. On realizing their child is abusing drugs, they accept the reality. They seek information on drug abuse and its causes and devise strategies of addressing the problem based on tangible information. In such families, the abuser is not left to face the problem alone; all family members play a supportive role.
School Community:
The knowledge or suspicion that some students are abusing drugs elicits varied reactions, in most Kenyan schools, students identified as drug abusers are expelled or suspended. Although some schools do not expel drug abusers, they are ostracized, stigmatized and associated with all vices in the school compound. This approach has not helped to reduce the incidence of drug abuse in schools. Increased cases of drug ' abuse have been reported even in schools with strict discipline. On expulsion from one school, students join other schools. This way, the problem of drug abuse spreads among learning institutions.
In some schools, however, guidance and counselling has been used to assist students in general and drug abusers in particular to avoid the vice. Talks and discussions have been held by class teachers, church leaders, medical doctors, members of the school board and the PTA and alumni. While this is a positive step, caution should be excised. Although many individuals and organizations are eager to get into schools to tell students 'facts' about drugs, a specific criterion should be used to select resource persons. Some of these talks merely condemn the evils of drugs and student users/abusers without tackling the cause of the problem. Some speakers give skewed and narrow views and misinformation on drug use and abuse. This can result in the talks doing more harm than good to drug abusers. Not only are students sometimes confused by such talks but they also end up doubting the information given. Some schools - particularly missionary and religious based schools -have used the empowerment approach to battle drug abuse among students. When students on drugs are identified, they are not ridiculed but are made to realize they are valuable and God's children. They are informed that with trust in God and the will to avoid drugs, they will overcome drug abuse. The abusers are-not shunned by the school community but are made to feel that they can take control of their, destiny. Many are talked to, especially by the school chaplain.. Some are encouraged to visit rehabilitation centres. Some of these schools encourage students who are on drugs to be become born again Christians. This has helped some users and abusers to stop the habit. In general, what student users and abusers need are recognition, acceptance and help; not ridicule and mistreatment. They need information on the harmful effects of drugs and ways of avoiding the substances. Accurate information on drugs will enable students to be more discerning about their own and other people's drug use. However, the school community should be equipped with skills to deal with the problem, such as sensitivity in their communications approach. Drug education among Kenyan students should be based on the need to increase their knowledge and understanding of drugs, drug use and related issues. Drug education should form an integral part of the regular school curriculum. Guidance and counselling personnel should be the focal point for drug-related activities in schools. Supplying learners with drug information early in life may determine future trends of drug abuse.
Government:
Government efforts against drug abuse are not aimed at specific learners but to all citizens. There have been frequent seizures of drugs at Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and at border points such as Busia, Namanga and at the coast. Kenya has a porous coastline and borders. The government has conducted many campaigns to address the problem of drug abuse among the youth. The ministries of Health and Education have been at the forefront of these campaigns. I he President too has used public rallies to warn youths against drug abuse.. However, youths view some of these campaigns as more propaganda than education and information. Some anti- drug crusades highlight simplistic messages and sloganeering. Dangers of drug use have often been exaggerated in an attempt to create fear and thus discourage youths from abusing drugs. Unfortunately, young people have sometimes found out -through personal experiences of drug use and from friends - that some of the information given is erroneous. This has often resulted in mistrust of information on drugs. The government has funded research projects related to drug abuse, such as the "Notional Base Line Survey On Drug And Substance Abuse Among The Youth In Kenya, 2002. " Such projects assist the country in! general and policy makers in particular to evaluate the extent’ of drugs misuse by Kenyan youths and the success of campaigns mounted eradicate drug abuse. The government has also been involved in setting up bodies like NACADA and registering various non-governmental organizations and committees that fight against drug abuse.
Society's:
Society's response to students abusing drugs is as varied as society itself. Many members of society will not bother about a student abusing drugs. In many bars, patrons simply stare at students in uniform taking alcohol. Outside bars, the same can be witnessed. Many people are indifferent to such blatant drug use by students because they fear the repercussions that may spring from their taking action. This indifference and fear stem from rising insistence on children's rights and general permissiveness of the society.
Religious Organizations:
The response to the complex issue of drug abuse among students has been wide and varied among religious groups such as Christians, Muslims and Hindus. In many religious organizations, drug abusers have been associated with Satanism. Student abusers are viewed as escapists and spoilt youngsters who are unable to deal with personal problems. They are regarded as epitomes of the evils of excessive pleasure, materialism and curiosity. They are considered destructive 10 society. Assistance to them is through preaching and condemnation of their actions. However, preaching and instilling fear has not stopped young people from abusing drugs. This is chiefly because such preaching is based on flawed assumptions about why young people use drugs (Cohen, 1993; Davies and Coggans, 1 991). Some religious groups rely on prayers as a tool for assisting students on drugs. Every solution to drug related problems is sought through prayers, fasting and faith. Abusers have at times been locked in rooms for days with no food or water in the belief that this will drive away evil spirits associated with drugs. Such actions have sometimes Caused very severe consequences; even loss of life. Prayers per se have not always solved the problem. There are also cases of hypocrisy as some members of religious groups indulge in drug abuse without being detected. On the other hand, some religious groups have a more sensitive and pastoral approach to students abusing drugs. They emphasize and embrace ways of minimizing the harm suffered by abusers. They view drug abuse as symptomatic of wider personal and societal problems such as family disintegration/ dysfunction, unconnected community networks, sexual and physical abuse, societal apathy, unemployment, inadequate student and welfare supports and unstable relationships. They do not condemn the abusers but try to show them that the problem can be overcome if one has will power and sense of worth. In general, most religious organizations lack the technical know-how to help student abusers. Some regard these students as perpetrators of satanic forces and destroyers of the universe. However, other groups sympathize with student abusers and advocate rehabilitation.
Peer Groups:
Peer groups have exhibited varied responses to a colleague who is abusing drugs. Some students regard drug abusers as heroic individuals who can make their own decisions and stick to them. Drug abusers are, to some of their peers, role models who epitomize independence. Some peer groups, particularly those inclined towards religious indoctrination, condemn drug abusers and view them as evil doers and sadists who should be shunned by other members of the group. In such groups, abusers are avoided. Sonic members become extremely harsh and cruel towards them. Though the drug abuser is not expelled from the group, he/she is ridiculed and associated with all vices in the group. He/she endures cruel and harsh language. The result is that the abuser is neither able to talk openly and honestly with group members nor to say what he/she thinks, feels or is experiencing. In the long run, he/she drops out of the group. Some peer groups display a lot of maturity in dealing with drug abusers in their midst. They neither stigmatize nor shun the abuser but treat him/her as one of them. Members work together to help their colleague overcome the habit. Such group support and mutual care has sometimes contributed to positive results i.e. the abuser stopping the habit.
francis1897 answered the question on August 22, 2022 at 13:56