THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCE MANAGEMENT

FACULTY OF ACCOUNTING, BANKING AND FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
BACHELOR DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING
YEAR II
2019/2020
STREAM B
MSU_07401 RESEARCH
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

NAME REG .NO

IRENE S MICHAEL IMC/BAC/18/82914
 A STUDY ON EFFECT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG TANZANIAN
YOUTH WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DAR-ES-SALAAM
CITY AND OLD STONE TOWN IN ZANZIBAR.

ABSTRACT.
This study defines drug and drug abuse. It further discusses the extent of drug trafficking in
Tanzania and Dar es salaam as the launchpad. Theoretical issues underlying drug abuse are
discussed in detail. The study indicates that the youth gets involved in drugs due to peer
pressure, curiosity, wanting to be different, rioting from the system and also due to escape
behavior that is running away from problems. Characteristics of drug abusers are provided.
Most drug abusers are said to have glue with them, possess large paper bags, handkerchiefs,
and hypodermic syringes. The effects in terms of problems and/or dangers of drug abuse are
highlighted as brain damage, behavioral disorders, inability to reason and low academic
performance. To conclude, the study offers a summary and outlines recommendations for
action against drug abuse with special reference to Dar-es-salaam city and Old Stone town in
Zanzibar. This study also recommends that attempts should be made through the Ministry of
Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Labour and Youth to see to it that ways and
means of alleviating the drug abuse problems are sought out. Parents and the community at
large should be involved in anti-drug programmes.
INTRODUCTION
A drug is defined as a substance (and often an illegal substance) that causes addiction,
habituation on a marked range in consciousness (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary,
1993). The definition includes drugs such as heroin, cocaine, basuco (a cocaine product),
opium, cannabis and psycho-tropic substances as described in Mbatia (1994). Drugs can
further be defined as simply chemicals that can change something in the body's chemistry or
internal makeup. We use drugs in foods like vitamins. But these are both necessary and
beneficial. We use drugs as prescribed by doctors. Drugs are harmful or even fatal if they are
used for purposes not intended, or in the wrong way (Van, Cleave, Byrd, & Revel, 1987).
Many people use the terms 'drug use' 'substance abuse' and 'drug abuse' interchangeably.
However, the term 'drug' is mainly used to refer to 'medicine', while substance abuse may
include chemicals other than drugs, that is gasoline, cleaning fluids, glue, and other chemicals
(Hendrikz, 1986). In this study, a drug is defined as any chemical which, when inhaled or
taken in the body through injection or by mouth, may adversely affect one’s ability to think
and make valid judgements, and adversely affect one's sexual behavior. It is also defined as
any substance other than food that is purposely introduced into the body to alter normal
functions. Such substances include cocaine in all its forms, opium in all its forms, bhang and
marijuana.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To identify biological, environmental, behavioral, and social causes and

consequences of drug use and addict.
 To develop new approval and strategies to prevent drug use and its consequences.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

From this study researchers found to why youth engage themselves to the using of drug,
source of availability of drugs in Tanzania, common drug heard in Tanzania effects of drug
addict to individuals and society. The researchers also analysis possible suggestion for the
problem also come with various ways on reducing and minimizing the number of drug
addicts in Dar-es-Salaam city and Old stone town in Zanzibar.
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

In this part research analysis, some reported drug cases related in Tanzania and most common
drug used by Tanzanian youth specifically who are located at Dar-es-salaam and Old Stone
town in Zanzibar.

1.0 Sources and Availability or Drugs in Tanzania.

Although the magnitude of the drug problem in Tanzania has not yet been well estimated by a
comprehensive scientific study, it is clear that there is a significant number of Tanzanian
youths who use drugs, and are being used as couriers in the international drug traffic (Mbatia,
1994). There is a puzzle, however, over the availability of drugs in Tanzania. The majority of
Tanzanians do not know the origin of drugs or their accessibility. The drug business is so
secretive that when one is not in the 'loop' of the business, he or she may not know that it
exists, and that there are drug-related problems. However, it is evident from the media in
Tanzania that Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Tanga have had more cases of drug trafficking
than others, possibly because of their access to sea transportation. This issue of drug
trafficking in the regions needs further research. Youths from Tanzania and even all over the
world have stowed away, most of them with fake passports in attempts to ferry drugs to
countries other than those of their origin. Some youths end up either coming back to their
home countries with money, and some valuable items; and un fortunately some are at times
killed in the process.

1.1 Demographic Findings.

The baseline assessment sites in the United Republic of Tanzania were two urban
communities, namely Old Stone Town in Zanzibar Municipality and Kinondoni Municipality
in Dar es Salaam. Although these two sites are both urban, the special location of Zanzibar
(an island) as a transit point for drug trafficking further justifies the need for primary
prevention of substance use. In general, the demographic features of the two sites were
similar. The mean age (2000 census) was 25.4 years for Zanzibar and 26.0 years for Dar es
Salaam. The general population distribution was similar, with 48% of the population of
Zanzibar aged under 15 years and 47% of the population of Dar es Salaam aged under 15
years.
1.2 Substance use among adults.
 a) Patterns of substance use among adult survey participants.
The pattern of substance use among the adults surveyed is presented in Figure 1. A large
percentage of the adults had used tobacco over the past 30 days (24.0% for Dar es Salaam
and 38.8% for Old Stone Town in Zanzibar). Of the various kinds of tobacco, cigarettes were
the most popular. For alcohol, 33.7% of the adult respondents in Dar es Salaam and 19.4% in
Zanzibar had consumed alcohol over the past 30 days, with beer being the most popular
drink.

Figure 1: Past 30 days substance abuse in the adult KAP Survey

(N=100%)
Cocaine 0 3.1
Injections 0 3.1
heroin 1 7.1
Cannabis 3.1 12.2
Wine 3.1 6.2
Home Brews 3.1 7.4
Hard liquor 7.3 9.2
Beer 24.5 36.7
Alcohol 19.4 33.7
Pipes 7.4 28.6
Snuff 2 5.1
Chew Tobacco 0 4.1
Cigarettes 16.7 39.8
Tobacco 28 38.8
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Dar es Salaam Old Stone town

None of the respondents had used hallucinogens, amphetamines, mandrax, or a mixture of

marijuana and mandrax in either Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. Proportions for other substances
were considerably lower in comparison to that of alcohol and tobacco in both Dar es Salaam
and Zanzibar. However, the figures remained higher for Zanzibar than for Dar es Salaam. For
instance, the use of marijuana and heroin among the respondents over the past 30 days was
3.1% and 1% respectively for Dar es Salaam, whereas the corresponding Zanzibar figures
were 12.2% and 7.1% respectively. None of the respondents had used cocaine or injected
themselves with substances in Dar es Salaam over the previous 30 days, while the figures for
Zanzibar were 3.1% each for these two categories.

(b) Attitudes towards substance use among adults surveyed

Between 33.8% and 42.5% of adults either approved or strongly approved of using heroin
and mandrax. A higher figure (55.9% to 77.3%) approved heavy smoking of cigarettes and
marijuana, using cocaine, having one or two drinks several times a week, as well as having
more than five drinks once or twice each weekend. Among adults in Zanzibar, for these same
substances, the figures were much higher, ranging from 64.2% for cocaine, to 88.8% for
smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day. Although a lower percentage of adults in Zanzibar
than in Dar es Salaam approved of mandrax (26.3% to 29.5%), it was higher for heroin
(51.6% to 53.7%) in Zanzibar. Overall, Zanzibar had higher figures for approval of
substances than Dar es Salaam.

(c) Perception of risks associated with substance use

Although adults commonly approved of substance use, they were more hesitant to agree that
substance use entailed no or a slight risk. For example, between 64.2% and 88.8% of the
Adult KAP Survey respondents (strongly) approved of smoking 10 or more cigarettes per
day, using cannabis, using cocaine, having one or two drinks several times a week, or having
five or more drinks once or twice each weekend. Between 26.3% and 29.5% (strongly)
approved of the use of mandrax, and between 51.6% and 53.7% of heroin. Between 21.0%
and 67.4% believed that substance users in general placed themselves at no or a slight risk;
between 29.1% and 72.0% believed this about youth users. Substance use tended to be
regarded as fun, fashionable, and stress relieving.

(d) Ease of access to substances

Between 37.0% and 75.0% of the adults in Dar es Salaam perceived cigarettes and other
tobacco products, alcohol (including hard liquor, beer, wine and traditional brews) as well as
marijuana and cocaine to be easy to obtain. Alarmingly, in Zanzibar, a larger percentage of
the respondents (between 38.6% and 93.8%) viewed all the above products, as well as heroin,
sedatives and tranquillizers as easy to obtain. On the other hand, heroin, sedatives and
tranquillizers were perceived as being fairly difficult or impossible to obtain by a large
majority of adults in Dar es Salaam.

2.0 Causes and Consequences of Drug Use and Addict.

2.1 Causes of Drug use.
 Insufficient influence of the family over the individual's actions and lack of
parental guidance. The situation may arise due to family disruptions and dis
 functioning, leading to separation or divorce. Further, working parents do not
have time to take care of their children, while poor social economic conditions
my lead to drug trafficking and use as a source of income and escape.
 Personal factors like low success at school and poor interpersonal relationship
between individuals may be the cause in some cases of drug abuse. When
students cannot perform well in school, they may resort to drugs as an escape.
Skinner (1965) agrees with this by arguing that drug use and addiction is a form
of escape behaviour. He labels it as escape behaviour because certain drugs
provide temporary escape from conditioned or unconditioned aversive
stimulation, as well as from accompanying emotional responses. People take
drugs to get temporary relief from social-economic problems, or what they
would call painful thoughts.
 Easy availability of legal and illegal drugs. With negligence and lack of law
enforcement on what drugs should be over the counter, as well as on what
constitutes the legal age limit of purchasing drugs, this may lead to easy access
to some drugs by minors.
 Attitudes towards the use and effects of drugs and the presence of models and
social reinforcers, particularly peers and friends. Some youths think it is •cool, to
take drugs, especially when they see their peers 'getting high'
 Gilmer in 1973 showed that there are people who employ drugs for situational
purposes like trying to keep awake during examinations, when on a long journey,
or doing some work that requires one to be awake at night. Night shifts may
cause someone to use drugs. In Tanzania, some drivers chew 'mirungi' (leaves
from some types of trees growing in some areas of Kilimanjaro region) so that
they can drive long distances at night without falling asleep on the way
 There are spree uses of drugs like the ones by high school students or college
students looking for excitements.
2.2 Consequences of Drug use and Addict.

 Drugs and alcohol are expensive, especially when the usage is high and
constantly. Substance abuse also impacts the productivity and success at work
and in school. The time spent searching for, using and recuperating from drugs
can be better spent learning new skills to advance one’s career. The legal issues
tied to drug use will increase bills as well. The car and health insurance rates
 may increase and one will have to find a way to pay for arrest warrants and legal
counsel.
 Drug and alcohol abuse not only has negative effects on one’s health but can
also have legal consequences that a person will have to deal with for the rest of
his/her life. Many employers require the employees to take a drug test before
offering them a job. Many of them even conduct random drug tests even after
they become an employee. Refusing to give up drugs could end up making one
unemployed, which comes with even more issues. Driving under the influence
of drugs or alcohol can lead to a suspended driver’s license, usually for 6
months to 2 years, to pay heavy fines and even spend some time in jail.
 When a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he/she may forget to
engage in safe sex practices. Having unprotected sex increases the chances of
contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing the needles used to inject
certain drugs can transmit diseases like hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV. Also
spread common colds, the flu, and mono from sharing pipes and bongs.
 Drug and alcohol use impacts nearly every part of the body from the heart to the
bowels. Substance abuse can lead to abnormal heart rates and heart attacks, and
injecting drugs can result in collapsed veins and infections in the heart valves.
Some drugs can also stop the bones from growing properly, while others result
in severe muscle cramping and general weakness. Using drugs over a long
period of time will also eventually damage the kidneys and liver.
 The use of drugs and alcohol causes people to experience physical injury or be
involved in car accidents. Even worse, you also have an increased risk of death
through both suicide and homicide. These drug-related deaths are on the rise,
doubling since the early 1980s. Alcohol specifically results in 5.2 million
accidental injuries and 1.8 million deaths each year. It’s estimated that 1 out of
every 4 deaths is caused by drugs and alcohol, according to the World Health
Organization.

RECCOMENDATIONS.

There is no sufficient data on the prevalence of drug abusers in Tanzania. It will consequently
be difficult to have early detection of children affected ted by their parent's drug abuse.
Further, since the problem is not yet understood by many Tanzanians, it is hard to convince
the society that there is need for special schools and trained teachers to cater for students with
learning problems growing out of drug abuse

The following are some recommendations against drug abuse in Tanzania.

1. The government and lawyers should see to it that laws against drug
dealing and abuse are clearly formulated, stipulated, and adhered to.
2. Arrangements should be made by the government so that preventive measures against
drugs are taken. It should be remembered that it is cheaper to prevent than cure a disease. A
disease may have detrimental effects even after curative measures have been taken.
Consequently, the polIce and other concerned parties should be empowered and provided
with equipment to detect and arrest drug abusers, and those concerned with the drug business.
3. The Ministry of Agriculture and other concerned bodies should join efforts in attempts to
detect those areas and people who grow illegal drugs. Agricultural and extension officers may
'be used to facilitate the enforcement and implementation of the law.
4. Efforts be made so that our youths have recreational areas with a variety of recreation
activities like games and sports that may fully occupy them during weekends and evenings.
One good example is that of the USA where some Black neighborhoods have prepared and
utilize play grounds for basketball at night. Such steps might be too demanding for a
developing country like Tanzania. However, some arrangements may be made with church
organizations, the Ministry of Labour and Youth, together with Ministry of Education and
Culture which may arrange for social, religious, sports, and other activities that may
productively occupy our youths.
5. Publicizing the case against drug abuse is important. The radio, TV, and local newspapers
should be used to warn the society against drug abuse.
6. Co-operation among nations should be made so that there are firm-plans against drug
traffickers and abusers.
7. Teacher training colleges or any other bodies involved with teacher preparation should
make sure that teachers are adequately prepared to handle the academic and social problems
of drug-abused youths.
8. Surveys be carried out to fInd out sources of drugs in different countries and the solutions
to the problems.
9. The Ministry of Education and Culture should make arrangements for sensitizing students
on the adverse effects of drug abuse. Also teachers should be provided. with skills on how to
handle students with behavioral problems, since most children born of drug abusing parents
may have behavioral problems.
10. The anti-drug squad which started in Tanzania in 1990 should reveal the suspects and
make sure they are severely punished.