Abstract
As governments deploy immense resources to reign in on the trafficking and abuse of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine, it remains untenable controlling the abuse of prescription drugs. This study set out to examine the relationship between awareness of morbidity risk and psychosocial wellness of students in public secondary schools in Nairobi. Based on the situated rationality theory, this study adopted the correlational research design. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively by use of frequencies, percentages and means. It was also analyzed inferentially by use of t-test, Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis. Data from interviews and secondary data sources were analyzed using thematic and content analysis procedures. The study sampled 255 respondents. These included 100 students, 96 teachers, 42 principals and, 17 MOE officials. Out of these, 100 students (100%), 77 teachers (80.2%), 34 principals (81%) and 11 MOE officials (64.7%) responded. The findings show that prescription drug misuse is rampant among students, posing a threat not only to the kids who abuse the medications, but also to the nation's well-being, as the youth represent the people's future. The presence of risk and protective factors influences prescription medication addiction. Despite the fact that the students were aware of the risks associated with prescription drugs they continued abusing them. This was buttressed by Pearson correlation showed that awareness of morbidity risk had statistically significant relationships with psychosocial wellness among students (r=0.468, p<0.05). The study concludes that drug usage is widespread among secondary school students in Nairobi County, in terms of the types, quantity, and frequency of use irrespective of students’ awareness of the morbidity risks they posed. The study recommends that there was need to enhance the awareness of morbidity risk associated with prescription drug use through awareness campaigns among other interventions.