Effects of drug and substance abuse on employees’ performance in Eldoret municipal council, Kenya

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.