EFFECTS OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN KIAMBU: A CASE OF KIAMBAA SUB COUNTY

Abstract

World over, where drugs and substances are known, patterns for their use and abstinence are proscribed. In Kiambu County, various nationally and internationally recognised drug and substance abuse management practices have been put in place. The study aimed to investigate the effects of drug and substance use management practices on economic empowerment in Kiambu County, a County that continues to experience diminishing economic empowerment, especially among the young male folk, mainly due to increased drug and substance abuse. The following objectives were used as a guideline for the study: to assess the effect of drug and substance abuse prevention practices, to find out the impact of drug and substance abuse and law enforcement practices, and to assess the effect of drug and substance abuse Therapeutic management practices on the economic empowerment of Kiambu. The study was anchored on self-efficacy Theory, Cohen Status Frustration Theory and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. A descriptive research design was adopted, and the composition of the target population was ward administrators, MAT caregivers, police officers, OC Crime, Deputy County Commissioner and National government administrative officers (NGAO) were sampled using stratified simple random sampling. Key informants were purposively selected. A total of 200 respondents were targeted, and a sample size of 67 was used to collect data using a structured questionnaire; for data analysis, inferential and descriptive methods were used for quantitative data; for the presentation of data, figures and tables were used by harnessing the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study adopted a multivariate regression analysis. The study outcome indicated, and it shows, that drug and substance abuse management practices influence 30 per cent of economic empowerment in Kiambu County through the implementation of various mitigation practices by ward administrators, MAT caregivers, hospital administrators, National government administrative officers (NGAOs) and Police officers. Variables outside this model contribute the remaining 70 per cent. The model was, therefore, appropriate for inferential statistics. Economic empowerment increased when a single unit increased prevention program strategies, law enforcement practices, and therapeutic interventions. In conclusion, the joint effect of prevention program strategies, law enforcement practices, and therapeutic interventions is crucial for the economic empowerment of drug abuse victims. Recommendations included enhancing stakeholder collaboration and communication, including prevention program providers, law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, and economic empowerment organisations.