Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Ian Cole

Abstract

Drug abuse among university students has become a public health problem. The prevalence of drug abuse has negatively impacted the students, causing serious health outcomes. Finding a solution has the potential to benefit both students and society. Various intervention strategies have been adopted but the results have varied. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to evaluate the administrators’ and students’ perceptions of anti-drug-use policy at a federal university in Southeastern Nigeria to determine its effectiveness on drug abuse prevention among students. The policy feedback theory (PFT), which helps to understand and analyze the policy process, was the explanatory framework. The research questions were designed to evaluate the perceptions of administrators and students on the anti-drug-use policy to determine its effectiveness on drug abuse prevention among the students. The result came from open-ended interviews of 12 participants purposively selected to evaluate the participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the anti-drug-use policy. The resulting data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach thematic analysis as a reference point. The results produced four themes that facilitate anti-drug-use policy effectiveness: awareness/familiarity, involvement/engagement, equity/consistency, and agreement/acceptance; all themes suggested the importance of stakeholder engagement in the policy process. The implications for positive social change included a contribution to a body of knowledge needed to address the issue of illicit drug use policy by drawing policy makers attention to the importance of stakeholder engagement in the policy process.

Download

Share

 
COinS