Assessing the Impact of Drug Education Programs on Generation Z Tertiary Students' Knowledge

Aims: The Drug Education Program aims to impart knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse, especially among Generation Z tertiary students. Understanding the intricacies of drug abuse is imperative for personal well-being and catalyses the dissemination of critical information within the community. Despite the widespread existence of educational programs, there is an existing research gap regarding their effectiveness in improving the knowledge level of Generation Z tertiary students. Consequently, this study aims to assess the level of knowledge on drug abuse among Generation Z tertiary students.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study involving 296 participants explores the knowledge levels of Generation Z tertiary students across seven drug categories. Participants engaged in student development programs were randomly selected, and a specially designed questionnaire was utilized for data collection through Google Forms. Descriptive data, presented as percentages, revealed gender-based disparities in knowledge and lack of knowledge about various drugs.

Results: The analysis indicates that males generally possess a greater understanding of stimulants (30.16%) compared to females (15.9%), with marginal gender disparities in depressants (17.9% for males and 19.24% for females). Males exhibit slightly higher knowledge (17.64%) than females (14.34%) for hallucinogens, while knowledge levels about opium are comparable between males (35.55%) and females (33.52%). Moreover, males surpass females in understanding cannabis (27.3% to 19.46%), inhalants (33.88% to 29.82%), and kratom (15.3% to 9%).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the overarching strategy recommends that educators adapt teaching methods by integrating real-life scenarios, grasping Generation Z's characteristics, and leveraging technology to establish an effective and resonant learning environment for this generation.