A Mixed Method Research on Drug Use and Abuse among First -Year Students at Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe | Chapter 2 | Current Progress in Arts and Social Studies Research Vol. 8

College students often undergo role transitions such as going away from the family home for the first time, residing with other students, and experiencing reduced adult supervision—which may increase the risk of substance abuse. Alcohol use is quite common among adolescents and college students which is also associated with a broad array of risk behaviors. The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of drug use among first-year Faculty of Social Sciences students at Great Zimbabwe University. An explanatory sequential design was used in the study. The total sample size of 157 students (82 males, 75 females) volunteered. Here, 72 students were from the Department of Human Resources Management, 66 from Sociology and 19 from Psychology. Data was analyzed using bar graphs and a chi-square to determine the degree of association between variables. Qualitative data from focus group discussions were analyzed thematically. Results show that students drank alcohol as their drug of choice and the prevalence of beer drinking started at the age band of 19-22 when students are at college and that peer pressure makes them continue drinking. Males have a higher prevalence of alcohol use in the previous month of the study and a higher rate of binge drinking and daily usage than their female counterparts. Co-use of alcohol and marijuana was most prevalent among males who binged or got drunk the previous month. There was a significant association between gender (in age band 19-22) and age of first drinking alcohol but an insignificant association between gender (in age band 23-26) and age of first drinking alcohol. An insignificant association was found between students’ majors and when they last took alcohol. The absence of parental control, reducing stress and closer bonds with peers were the reasons for using drugs. It is recommended that College administrators need to adopt more intensive on-campus alcohol and drug abuse education and evidence-based intervention programs.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Elliott Nkoma
Department of Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

 

Dadirai Bhumure
Department of Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Social Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cpassr/v8/3049