Parental Socio-Economic Status and Drug Abuse Among Students in Secondary School -Kampala District Uganda

ABSTRACT This study was set to find out the influence of parental socio-economic status and drug abuse among students in selected secondary schools of Kampala District. It was guided by four specific objectives, that included i) identifying commonly abused drugs in schools; ii) parental socio economic status; iii) prevalence of drug abuse and iv) the relationship between parental socio economic status and drug abuse among students. The study used a descriptive correlation design that use both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. It was cross-sectional and expost facto. The study comprised of a population of 500 students from selected secondary schools of Kampala District. The findings showed that majority of respondents were boys 155 (81.6%) ranged between 12-15 years and these were between S.1 —S.3 (110 (57.9%), coming from first class families 141 (64.2%) and the drug that is commonly abused is marijuana with 88(46.3%), meaning that they are a stage of identity and confusion. The parental socio-economic status is generally high with means of 2.802 and standard (0.443), The prevalence of drug abuse was generally high with means of 2.562 and standard (0.409). The findings also indicated a positive significant correlation between Parental socio-economic status and Drug abuse among adolescents in selected secondary schools of Kampala District, since the r=478 sig. value (.000) was far less than 0.05, which is the maximum level of significance required to declare a significant relationship in social sciences. Basing on these results the stated null hypothesis was rejected and a conclusion made that Parental socio-econornic status and Drug abuse among adolescents 56% in drug abuse indicated by adjusted squared of 0.563 leading to the conclusion that parental socio-economic status significantly explains the high rates of drug abuse among adolescents. From the findings the researcher recommends there is need for parents to encourage girl children also to study, ii) In the line with above, there is gender imbalance in schools which may cause havoc, so its better to encourage parents take their children in good schools, iii) There is need to encourage parent to help their children do the home work, since it was found to be generally low, iv) There is a need to sensitize parents and children on the effects of drug abuse hence reduction of the dangers, v) There is a need to encourage parents to start businesses those who are not employed, and vi) There is a need to sensitize the parents not to smoke cannabis at any time they feel like, despite the fact that they can afford it. It found that higher SES among adolescents was associated with greater rates of binge drinking and marijuana and cocaine use in early adulthood.