WHAT CAN MAKE MANY OF THE LEARENERS TO GET IN DRUGS

1. Peer Pressure Learners may feel pressured by friends or classmates to try drugs in order to be accepted or avoid being ridiculed. They may fear being left out or teased if they refuse. 2. Curiosity Teenagers and young adults are naturally curious. They may want to experience the effects of drugs for themselves, especially if they’ve heard others talk about it. 3. Stress Relief Academic work, exams, and personal problems can cause stress. Some students turn to drugs to temporarily escape from pressure, anxiety, or emotional pain. 4. Low Self-Esteem Learners who don’t feel good about themselves may use drugs to boost confidence or forget their insecurities. They may also believe drugs will make them feel more accepted or “cool.” 5. Family Influence If a learner grows up in a household where parents or siblings use drugs or alcohol, they might think it is normal behavior and follow the same path. 6. Lack of Supervision When parents or guardians are absent, overly permissive, or unaware of their children’s activities, learners may take advantage of the freedom to try drugs. 7. Media Influence Movies, music, and social media sometimes portray drug use as fun, glamorous, or a way to be rebellious. Learners may want to imitate what they see in pop culture. 8. Poor Academic Performance Struggling in school can lead to feelings of failure and frustration. Drugs may seem like a way to escape from disappointment or help them focus (e.g., misuse of study drugs). 9. Mental Health Issues Learners suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, or other emotional disorders may use drugs to numb their feelings or avoid facing their problems. 10. Availability of Drugs If drugs are easy to get — at school, in the community, or even at home — learners are more likely to try them. Accessibility lowers the barrier to experimentation. 11. Boredom When learners have nothing productive or interesting to do, they may turn to drugs just to “pass the time” or break the monotony. 12. Cultural Norms In some cultures or communities, drug use is seen as acceptable or even encouraged. This can make it more likely for young people to engage in it. 13. Lack of Awareness Many students are not fully educated on the health risks and legal consequences of drug use. They may think, “Trying once won’t hurt” — not realizing the dangers. 14. Desire for Pleasure Some learners use drugs because they enjoy the sensations — euphoria, relaxation, or hallucinations — that some substances produce. 15. Academic Pressure High expectations from parents or teachers may lead students to take stimulants to stay awake and study, or other drugs to cope with pressure. 16. Bullying or Social Isolation Victims of bullying or learners who feel excluded may use drugs to escape reality, cope with emotional pain, or feel accepted elsewhere. 17. Influence from Celebrities When popular celebrities or influencers use or promote drugs, learners may view it as trendy or harmless and want to copy them. 18. Rebellion Teenagers often rebel against rules or authority. Using drugs can be an act of defiance against parents, teachers, or society. 19. Lack of Role Models Without strong, positive role models — such as responsible parents, teachers, or mentors — learners may follow harmful paths like drug abuse. 20. Imitation of Adults If learners observe adults (especially people they admire) using substances, they may imitate that behavior, believing it's acceptable or mature. HOW BRAIN SUFFURED IN LINE AND ROAD OF DRUGS It all started with a puff. Just one puff. When Brian walked through the gates of Form Three at Makutano High School, he was full of promise. His teachers loved him, his grades were top-notch, and his dream of becoming a civil engineer was within reach. But beneath that quiet smile was a storm waiting to erupt. It began when he started spending time with older students during breaks. They seemed “cool”—laughing loudly, skipping afternoon prep, always talking about freedom and money. One day, they invited him behind the school dorms and offered him something wrapped in a small piece of paper. "Just try it, it’s nothing big,” they said. Brian hesitated. But the pressure, the need to belong, the curiosity—all of it overwhelmed him. He took a puff. That one decision changed everything. Within weeks, Brian became unrecognizable. He stopped attending morning preps. His assignments were always late. He became defensive, aggressive, and always tired. Teachers who once praised him now shook their heads in silence. His friends tried to talk to him, but he brushed them off. "I’m fine, mind your business," he snapped at Peter, his deskmate, one morning. The truth was, Brian wasn’t fine. Behind closed doors, he had started experimenting with stronger drugs. What began as “just a puff” had become a habit—an addiction. He had started sneaking out of school at night to meet dealers in the nearby town. To afford the drugs, he stole money from his mother, lied to teachers, and even sold exam papers. The school administration eventually caught up with him. One evening, a search was conducted in the dormitories. Brian’s locker revealed a stash of rolling papers, strange pills, and a lighter. He was suspended immediately and sent home. His mother collapsed on hearing the news. "My son? Drugs? Never!" she cried, disbelief painted across her face. But denial could no longer protect Brian. Rehabilitation wasn’t easy. The withdrawal hit him like a hammer—sleepless nights, mood swings, deep depression. But something in him wanted to fight. He remembered his younger sister, whom he had promised to buy a bicycle for when he got his first job. He remembered the smile on his mother’s face when he won a science contest. He remembered the dream of designing bridges. With support from a local counseling center and encouragement from his pastor and former teacher, Mr. Mutiso, Brian slowly began the journey to recovery. It took a year. A year of pain, learning, rebuilding. Today, Brian stands in front of schools and tells his story. "I almost lost my future because I wanted to fit in. I thought drugs would make me stronger, more confident. But they robbed me of everything I loved. If you’re in it now, ask for help. If you’re thinking about it—don’t. Your life is worth so much more." Brian never did go back to Makutano High, but he earned a second chance. He completed his high school through a private center and joined a technical college to study civil engineering. His scars remain—but so does his strength. It all started with a puff. Just one puff. When Brian walked through the gates of Form Three at Makutano High School, he was full of promise. His teachers loved him, his grades were top-notch, and his dream of becoming a civil engineer was within reach. But beneath that quiet smile was a storm waiting to erupt. It began when he started spending time with older students during breaks. They seemed “cool”—laughing loudly, skipping afternoon prep, always talking about freedom and money. One day, they invited him behind the school dorms and offered him something wrapped in a small piece of paper. "Just try it, it’s nothing big,” they said. Brian hesitated. But the pressure, the need to belong, the curiosity—all of it overwhelmed him. He took a puff. That one decision changed everything. Within weeks, Brian became unrecognizable. He stopped attending morning preps. His assignments were always late. He became defensive, aggressive, and always tired. Teachers who once praised him now shook their heads in silence. His friends tried to talk to him, but he brushed them off. "I’m fine, mind your business," he snapped at Peter, his deskmate, one morning. The truth was, Brian wasn’t fine. Behind closed doors, he had started experimenting with stronger drugs. What began as “just a puff” had become a habit—an addiction. He had started sneaking out of school at night to meet dealers in the nearby town. To afford the drugs, he stole money from his mother, lied to teachers, and even sold exam papers. The school administration eventually caught up with him. One evening, a search was conducted in the dormitories. Brian’s locker revealed a stash of rolling papers, strange pills, and a lighter. He was suspended immediately and sent home. His mother collapsed on hearing the news. "My son? Drugs? Never!" she cried, disbelief painted across her face. But denial could no longer protect Brian. Rehabilitation wasn’t easy. The withdrawal hit him like a hammer—sleepless nights, mood swings, deep depression. But something in him wanted to fight. He remembered his younger sister, whom he had promised to buy a bicycle for when he got his first job. He remembered the smile on his mother’s face when he won a science contest. He remembered the dream of designing bridges. With support from a local counseling center and encouragement from his pastor and former teacher, Mr. Mutiso, Brian slowly began the journey to recovery. It took a year. A year of pain, learning, rebuilding. Today, Brian stands in front of schools and tells his story. "I almost lost my future because I wanted to fit in. I thought drugs would make me stronger, more confident. But they robbed me of everything I loved. If you’re in it now, ask for help. If you’re thinking about it—don’t. Your life is worth so much more." Brian never did go back to Makutano High, but he earned a second chance. He completed his high school through a private center and joined a technical college to study civil engineering. His scars remain—but so does his strength.