Abstract:
This research was focused on assessment of the effectiveness of Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) in creating public awareness of socio-economic impacts of drug abuse taking Arumeru district as a case study. Therefore, the study was intended to draw attention to both antidrug agencies and the public in general about the role of DCEA and the need of proper knowledge of the public on how to combat drug abuse so as to curb its socio-economic consequences, hence to improve the government campaign against drug problem. The data collected through interview and documentary review were analysed by using a general procedure of qualitative data analysis. Data analysis was done by content analysis and thematic analysis. Conflict Theory of Drug Abuse was employed to guide the study in understanding the factors influencing people to take part in drugs and drug use so as to enable antidrug agencies know what kind of challenges, education, media and strategies are required by the public in combating drug abuse. In addition, Two-Step Flow Theory of Communication was used whenever all issues of public awareness were discussed. The theory was particularly relevant in referring to awareness of the public about drug abuse. The theory has supported the study findings that education to the public is the most important in combating drug abuse and its consequences in our society. The findings have insisted that effective education/information is presented in smaller amounts, over longer periods, and frequently. It is often better understood and more motivating than one-time-only handouts, trainings, or meetings. The findings confirmed that DCEA was perceived ineffective in educating the public about socio-economic consequences of drug abuse due to the lack of resources. Therefore, the present study has recommended that DCEA and other anti-drug agencies should not only use journals, speeches, reports, websites and TV programmes/movies portraying drug abuse as harmful to socio-economic aspects of the people. Also, friends, family members (parents), teachers and religious leaders such as pastors/imams, music, drama, T-shirts with anti-drug messages, and brochures were rated highly in terms of its power to influence youth into abstaining taking drugs and understanding socio-economic consequences of drug abuse.
