Factors Contributing To High Alcoholism among Youth in Adumi Village, Arua District

Abstract

This study was conducted at Adumi village Arua district about factors that contribute to alcoholism among youth. Youth aged 16 to 17 have the second highest rate (16.4%) of current alcohol abuse in the surveyed countries, and although consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal for people under 21 years of age, 10.4 million current drinkers are aged 12 to 20 and of this group, nearly half 5.1 million engage in binge drinking, including 2.3 million who would also be classified as heavy drinkers The study used a descriptive research design with both qualitative and quantitative methods. A sample of 50 respondents was sampled using questionnaires. The data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft excel, then presented using tables and figures. The major factors contributing to alcoholism among the youth in Adumi village were found to be, lack of full time employment leading to idleness of the youth, Peer group influence, easy accessibility, availability and affordability of alcohol in Adumi village without any restrictions, Physical and emotional stress resulting from poor conditions of living leading to psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression, Chaotic home environments and child negligence leading to school dropouts, Lack of information about the disadvantages of alcoholism from the community development officers and policies to prevent the vice in the study area and the district at large. The government and other stakeholders such as NGOs and CBOs should establish youth livelihood programs to combat idleness among the youth and should put in place bylaws on the time of opening bars and also the age of people allowed to drink and make sure that these bylaws are strictly enforced.