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Aim: This study explored factors which influence drugs initiation and use among youth in Kinondoni municipality-Dare s salaam.
Design: It was cross sectional study using qualitative approach where by 20 participants 15males and 5 female were interviewed.
Material and methods: A snowballing sampling technique was used to obtain the study participants. Data collection was done through in depth interview and a content analysis was carried out to identify different themes suitable to answer the objectives.
Results: Our findings revealed that having peers who use drugs, poor parental care, lack of interest in school,curiosity,availability of drugs,stress,lack of employment and pleasure are independent predictors for drug initiation. On the other hand, it was observed that majority of participants perceived drug use as bad behaviour.Interestingly, majority of the respondents reported willingness to quit from drug use. In addition majority of the participants reported that they sustain their drugs through buying from petty sellers (wazungu) in the streets.
Conclusion: Drug use among youth is a problem. Some individual factors accelerate the problem. However, majority of the participants seem to be willing to stop from drug use. Interventions to reduce the problem should target such groups. In addition, more efforts should focus to family and community involvement and responsibility. |
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