Causes and Consequences of Drug Abuse (A Study on the People at detention at the Kaski District Police Office)

Abstract

The present study entitled, "Causes And Consequences Of Drug Abuse (A Study On The People At Detention At The Kaski District Police Office)" is based upon the drug abusers held at the detention at the Kaski District Office, Kaski as respondents. The objectives of the study were to assess and analyse the causes and consequences of drug abuse among the drug abusers. The study followed mixed method design with both descriptive as well as exploratory methods of data analysis and interpretation. Semi-structured questionnaires as an interview schedule, checklists for key informants' interviews and participants' observation were the tools employed for the study. Data obtained were edited, processed and analysed with the help of SPSS version 23. Among the total respondents, more than thirty percent of them were adolescents and almost one in five was 30 years and over. The male drug abusers were dominant by gender with the ratio of 9:1. More than sixty percent were unmarried. Regarding the ethnic status of the drug abusers, the so called higher caste group represent 31.1%, while Janajatis were 36.1%. More than half of the respondents have attained at most basic level of education and every two among five have studied secondary level education. The majority of the respondents (85.2%) come from nuclear families. As per the responses, the major sources of obtaining drugs were friends (63.8%) and Pharmacies (23%). Likewise, more than half of them began using drugs during their adolescence. The major causes of drug abuse have been identified as the parental conflict, peer influence and convenient access in their communities. Likewise, the consequences include physiological, psychological and social consequences resulting into hardship of the drug abusers to be into the detention.