Knowledge and attitude of the secondary school and college students about drug abuse and participation in prevention programs in Tanta city, Egypt

Abstract

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development with substantial risk for initiating substance use. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and attitude of the secondary school and college students about drug abuse and participation in prevention programs. Design and Methods: descriptive comparative study. The study was carried out in technical secondary school in Tanta city and Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt. The sample consisted of two groups where their total number constituted 406 students. The tools of the study: The first, structured interview sheet concerning socio-demographic data and knowledge of students regarding knowledge about 1) Drug abuse, 2) Participation in prevention programs. The second tool, it was used to measure the students' attitudes towards abuse and participate in prevention programs of it. Results: the study reveals that about two-thirds of the college students (65.02%) had information about the drug abuse dangers through various media as a main source of information, followed by (30.54% and 21.18%) from professors and subjects at the school and family respectively, compared to (35.47%) of the secondary school students who had information from colleagues and friends, while the information from family constituted 28.08%. (74.88%) of college students and (98.03%) of the secondary school students had poor score knowledge regarding drug abuse, there was statistically significant difference found. While (63.05%) of the college students and (63.55%) of the secondary school students had fair score knowledge regarding participation in prevention programs, there wasn't difference found. The students from two groups had a negative attitude toward drug abuse which represented about (96.55%) for college students and (100%) for the secondary school students, while the college students and secondary students had positive attitude toward participation in prevention programs (87.19% and 94.09% respectively), there were statistically significant difference were found. Conclusion: The students from college and the secondary school students had poor knowledge regarding drug abuse and both groups had fair knowledge regarding participation in prevention programs.  On the other hand, the students from two groups had negative attitude toward drug abuse and participation in prevention programs. Recommendations: Secondary school and college based education program as a part of school and college curriculum and through community activities involving parents and faith- based organization. There is also a need for accompanying campaigns to increase the public awareness of the rationale for the drug abuse prevention and intervention initiatives proposed by the current study. This would make it easy to plan and implement them.