The Relationship Between Drug Abuse And Behaviour Change Among The Youth In Makindye Division Kampala District A Case Study Of Katwe Slum

Abstract

Drug abuse is the compulsive, excessive and self-damaging use of habit forming drugs or substances, leading to addiction or dependence. Drug abuse is a problem that has increased behavioural problems such as aggression, violence and eating disorders. This research seeks to study the relationship between drug abuse among the youth and how it shapes their behaviour. While there are many different kinds of drugs, the proposed study is focusing on marijuana, khat ‘Mairungi’, nicotine, aviation and alcohol. The research is examining how the abuse of these drugs is related with behaviour of aggression, eating disorder and violence. This research is carried out in katwe slums in makindye Division, Kampala district. 1.1 Background of the study. Drugs have been in existence and used for healing and religious purpose. Evidence accruing to this report by Escandon and Galvez (2007) gives an account of Eber papyrus’ report which claims that in 1550BC Egyptian physicians used opium for the treatment of certain illness, Escandon and Galvez (2007), Similarly drug abuse which is the use of more quantity of drugs than prescribed, or use of drugs for purposes other than those prescribed is as old as the use of drugs for healing purposes .However, the abuse of drugs is reported to have been aggravated by urbanisation (Mouti 2002). The problem of drug abuse has now become a worldwide habit, in both developed and developing countries. It has become more alarming among the youth. (Holland, 1986). Governmental and non-governmental agencies and departments have been working hard to bring this situation to an end but the struggle is still on. According to Mattie, (2012) About 200 million people around the World use illegal drugs every year and that may be taking a toll on health and death rates in various countries. Furthermore, Escandon and Galvez (2007), assert that the assumption to drugs among western youth is alarming. In USA a country that usually sets the standard for many other countries, showed a critical situation of drug abuse in the l990s. Increase in consumption of marijuana was observed among students in the first three years of high school. in Uganda 45% of youth take drugs and alcohol (vision reporter 2013).UYDEL senior programme manager, Rogers Mutaawe said the majority of the youth in the country take marijuana, alcohol and others use heroine. East African reports (2005) the world health organization 1 (WHO) ranked Uganda the leading consumer of alcohol in the world per capita consumption is 19.5 litres. The Global Status report (2004) says Uganda spends $145 million on alcohol annually.25% mental cases due to drug abuse. In Uganda a country of more than 32 million people, alcohol dependence among the main causes of psychiatric morbidity (ministry of health in Uganda 2005). Uganda not only lacks a clear national alcohol policy but has weak and poorly enforced laws (Uganda youth development link, 2008) It is estimated that 63 million males with alcohol-dependence-rate disorders (WHO 2004).According to (Kasule, 2011), between 5% to 10% Ugandans are regular drug abusers. In Uganda drug abuse has been described as a problem especially among marginalized groups and the unemployed although other categories of people also abuse drugs. Kasule further states that generally drug abuse has been more prevalent among Ugandan youth .It is reported that those abusing marijuana in particular being 7% to 38% .Sirnilarly, Kasirye (2010) records that marijuana is mainly abused by street children and school youth as well as by soldiers while heroin tends to be consumed by urban and street youth. However, he reports that cocaine is abused among high-income groups. Quoting the Uganda Annual Police Crime Report of 2009, Kasirye 2010 notes that there were 2,034 reported and investigated narcotics cases, which led to 2,274 arrests compared to 2,542 in 2008. (Kasirye, 2010). The trend has been attributed to inadequate laws and weak border controls. Kasirye concludes that Uganda is now known a