The influence of substance abuse pandemic on the behavior of youths: A case study of nagongera town council in tororo district
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Date
2026-09-01
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Busitema University
Abstract
Substance abuse among youths is no longer merely a health issue; it is a social crisis that affects families
and has serious implications for education, health, and social development. This study adopted a
quantitative cross-sectional design to investigate the influence of the substance abuse pandemic on the
behavior of youths in Nagongera Town Council, located in Tororo District. Data were collected using
structured, self-administered questionnaires administered via Kobo Toolbox and analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS, Stata, and R. A targeted sample size of 390 was calculated
using Slovin’s formula, based on an estimated population of 14,860 in Nagongera. To account for
potential non-response, 416 questionnaires were distributed across the study area. A total of 383 fully
completed questionnaires were retrieved, yielding an overall response rate of 383 (92.1%) among
distributed questionnaires and 383 (98.2%) of the target sample size.
The empirical findings revealed a high lifetime prevalence of substance abuse of 111 (43.9%) among the
youths. Alcohol, shisha, and cocaine were the most commonly consumed substances. Furthermore, 44
(39.6%) of identified users reported daily consumption. Peer pressure emerged as the leading behavioral
driver, with 72 (64.9%) reporting it, closely followed by academic stress, with 41 (36.9%).In terms of
academic impacts, 35 (49.3%) of substance-abusing students admitted to chronic class absenteeism. A
Likert-scale analysis showed severe cognitive and behavioral interference, with 68.8% of respondents
experiencing significantly reduced classroom concentration and 47.6% attributing lower grades directly to
substance exposure. Publicly, substance abuse was strongly linked to heightened aggression, deteriorating
peer relationships, and domestic conflict. The study concluded that the rate of substance abuse among
youths in the Nagongera context had escalated beyond recreational boundaries, actively compromising
educational outcomes and community stability. Recommendations were made for the Nagongera Town
Council and educational institutions to institute targeted, school-based counseling departments and to
implement strict community regulatory frameworks to combat illicit substance supply chains