Perceived Factors Influencing Drug Abuse among University Students in Western Uganda

The paper examines the perceived factors influencing drug abuse among university students in western Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted. The results reveal that the perceived factors are categorical that to say demographic related factors (age, gender and religion), social factors (family influence, peer influence, social environment influence, mixed messages about drug abuse, lack of appropriate laws, poor enforcement of laws, Cultural factors, Weight management, poverty and Influence of celebrities), behavioural (rebelliousness, preconscious sexual activities, one drug leading to using others, antisocial behaviour e. g. theft, fighting, tendency to seek excitement, curiosity and night clubbing), individual characteristics factors (stress, student employment, rejection effects, poverty, poor self-esteem and poor performance in class) and campus factors which include stressful clearance process, university fees policy, permissiveness and un-exemplary staff.