Church’s Role in the Mitigation of Drug and Substance Abuse Among Youths of PCEA Nanyuki Presbytery, Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

Drug and substance abuse among youths represents a significant concern in Kenya and globally. This study examined the church's role in mitigating drug and substance abuse among youths in PCEA Nanyuki Presbytery, Laikipia County, Kenya. The church, as a key social institution, addresses this issue through conscientization, pastoral care, advocacy, and rehabilitation programs. In Laikipia County, despite church interventions, drug and substance abuse remains prevalent, with 37.1% of youth having experimented with drugs, 22.4% regularly abusing substances, and high relapse rates (65%) in Nanyuki. Church interventions show limited effectiveness with only 28% reporting success. This study aimed to examine the church's various roles in mitigating drug and substance abuse among youth, while evaluating how socio-cultural factors moderate these efforts. The study was guided by theories including Social Learning Theory, Conscientization Theory, and Ecological Systems Theory, employing a descriptive survey design with a pragmatist philosophy and mixed methods approach. The target population included 1,340 youths, 131 church elders, 7 parish ministers, and 447 parents from PCEA Nanyuki Presbytery. The sample comprised 359 respondents (300 youths, 12 church elders, 7 parish ministers, and 40 parents), selected using census sampling for parish ministers, convenience sampling for parents, purposive sampling for church elders, and stratified random sampling for youth. Data reliability was established through Cronbach's alpha, test-retest, and inter-coder reliability methods, while validity was ensured via pre-testing and face, construct, and content validity. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages and means), Chi-square tests, and correlation analyses, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Findings were presented using tables, charts, and verbatim excerpts. The study found significant relationships between church interventions and substance abuse mitigation, with conscientization, pastoral care, advocacy, and rehabilitation programs all showing positive impacts when properly implemented. However, implementation gaps were identified, particularly in technology utilization, specialized addiction treatment services, structured follow-up mechanisms, and strategic community partnerships. Socio-cultural factors like family dynamics, peer influence, and community attitudes significantly moderated intervention effectiveness. The study recommends enhancing church programs through technology integration, specialized training, structured mentorship frameworks, improved medical treatment support, strategic partnerships, and culturally sensitive approaches that address socio-cultural contexts. These findings contribute to developing improved church-based interventions to reduce drug and substance abuse among Kenyan youths.