Abstract:
Drugs and substance abuse pose a huge challenge in businesses and organisations that
if not checked could impact negatively on employee performance. The study
investigated the effect drugs and substance abuse by employees on their performance
and productivity levels. The specific objectives of the study were: to find out types of
drugs and substances abused by employees; to determine the causes of drugs and
substance abuse among employees; to assess the effect of drugs and substance abuse
by employees on performance and to establish measures aimed at addressing drugs
and substance abuse by employees in the organisation. The study was based on
genetic theory propagated by Shuckit (1980) which states that genetic makeup of
individuals predisposes them towards drugs abuse and alcoholism. The study was
conducted in Eldoret Municipal Council [EMC] offices. The target population
comprised all employees working in the former EMC 7 departments and municipal
public health officer. The sample size for the study 159 employees and 1 public health
officer. The respondents were selected through stratified random sampling and
purposive sampling techniques. The research instruments were structured
questionnaire, interview schedule and document checklist. The instruments were
checked for validity and reliability through content validation and a pilot study. Data
collected was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Descriptive statistics was used
to analyse quantitative data with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS Version 18). Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study
found out that drugs and substance abuse is a problem experienced by employees in
the organisation. Documentary evidence showed that cases of drugs and substance
abuse by employees at the workplace had been reported. Alcohol and cigarettes were
the most common drugs and substance abused by employees. The causes of drug
abuse were related to social peer pressure, job cadre and family issues. There was
negative effect of drugs and substance abuse on employee performance at Eldoret
Municipal Council. The study recommends that counselling programmes should be
introduced, sensitisation programmes, training programmes and rehabilitation
programmes of drugs addicts.
