INFLUENCE OF DRUG ABUSE ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE  

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of drug abuse      on the academic performance of secondary school students in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire tagged “Influence of Drug abuse on students’ Academic   Performance Questionnaire (IDASAPQ). It consisted of 20 items which elicited necessary information from 200 students in Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. Frequency counts and percentage were used for analyzing the demographic section while the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical methods were used to test the research hypotheses, comparing the perception of respondents on the influence of drug abuse on students’ academic performance in Ilorin on the basis of gender, age, religion, ATP, ATF and TOR. Results showed that Gender had a significant influence on Kwara state College of Education Student’s perception of the influence of drug addiction on students’ academic performance. However, Religion, Parents’ addiction to drugs/alcohol, Friends addiction to drugs/alcohol, Type of residence and Age has no such influence on secondary school students’ perception of the influence of performance. 

Based on the findings, some counseling implications were highlighted and recommendations were also made. 

Summary of literature Review 

 

 

The history of human race has also been the history of drug abuse (Maithya, 2007). In itself, the use of drugs does not constitute an evil; in fact some drugs have been a medical blessing. (Maithya, 2009) Since, time in memorial earliest times, herbs, roots, bark leaves have been used to relieve pain and help control diseases. History tells us that the Chinese used Opium as a cure of dysentery before the 18thcentury.  European countries such as Britain and Holland were known to exchange opium growth in their colonies for tea and silk with China.  Unfortunately, certain drugs that initially produce enticing effects, such as sense of feeling good, elation, serenity and power have evolved into a problem of dependence and abuse.

Drug  abuse  is  a  global  problem  that  poses  a  great  danger  to  the  lives  of individuals, society and political stability and security in many countries (United Nations, 2002). According to the United Nations (2005), the use of illicit drugs has increased throughout the world and the major world trend is the increasing availability of many kinds of drugs among ever widening spectrum of consumers. Of major concern is that children seem to be targeted as the new market for the drug industry globally.

Drugs and substance abuse has become the focus of research and preventive activities in the developed countries for decades (Muyabo, 2011). A study carried out by the London School of Economics in 1980 on students learning behaviour revealed a relationship between drug abuse and poor academic results (Otieno, Balswick & Norland, 2009).Africa has not been spared from the abuse of drugs by the youth. The continent, over recent years has experienced an upsurge in the production, distribution and consumption of drugs with the youth and young adults being most affected (Asuni & Pela, 2007).

Africa has huge young and vulnerable populations which has become the target market for the illicit drug industry. This constitutes 56% of the population aged between 14-19 years, which constitutes secondary school students. In Ethiopia it is reported that 82 per cent of the street children in Addis Ababa use some kind of a drug (United Nations, 2013). Besides, the threat of increasing consumption of illicit drugs amongst the young people and children, South Africa is becoming a major  transhipment  point  in  the  international  drug  trade  as  well  as  a  major producer of Dagaa (Honwana & Lamb, 2014). Gilberto Gerra (2013), the chief of drug and preventive health branch at the United Nations office on drugs and crime pointed out that West Africa is completely weak in terms of boarder control, undermanned ports and the big drug cartels from Colombia and Latin America have chosen Africa as a way to reach Europe. The United Nations official (Gerra) added that when a country becomes a transit point it immediately becomes a consumption country.

According to the United Nations (UN) statistics 2013, 37,000 people in Africa die annually from diseases associated with drug abuse. The UN estimates that there 28 million drug users in Africa (United Nations, 2013).  An  International conference  on  drug  abuse  in  Kampala  2013  reported  that  young  people  in consumption  countries  were  the  most  vulnerable  section  of  the  population, especially those in the period of early and late adolescence who are mostly unable to resist peer pressure and start experimenting with drugs in schools or even outside school. The international conference on drug abuse in (Kampala 2013) advocated for an immediate strong inventions to reverse the trend.

Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems, poor peer relationships and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society like conflict between friends, family breakdown, violence, gangs, drug trafficking etc.

Declining grades, absenteeism from school and other activities, and increased potential for dropping out of school are problems associated with adolescent substance abuse. Hawkins, Calatano and Miler (2007) had research finding that low level of commitment to education and higher truancy rates appear to be related to substance use among adolescents. Again drugs abused effect the brain, this result in major decline in the functions carried out by the brain (Abot, 2005). Drugs affect the students concentration span, which is drastically reduced and boredom sets in much faster than for non-drug and substance abusers. 

The student will lose interest in school work including extra curriculum activities. Most of the psychoactive drugs affect the decision making process of the students, creative thinking and the development of the necessary life and social skills are stunted. They also interfere with the awareness of an individual’s unique potential and interest thus affecting their career development (Kikuvi, 2009).

Drug abuse and its effects have emerged as a major source of concern within one college. The students due to their exuberance are; 

Does relationship among the secondary school student in Ilorin metropolis have negative influence? 

Do students who are drug – abused perform excellently more than those who do not take drug?

Purpose of this study is to investigate he performance of secondary school student in Ilorin metropoly, the research work also tends the identify the various causes and the extent to which the drug abuse has influence the secondary school students, it also ment to create the awareness on this impact of drug abuse within the secondary school students in Ilorin metropoly. The research is ment to moderate variables such as age, gender etc.

The following hypotheses are formulated to be tested. 

The study is limited to the influence of drug abuse on academic performance of secondary school students in Ilorin metropolis. 

This study will rely mostly on personal interview, data collection, record available on health institution as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and record available on internet search. The research will also make reference to selected related literature, magazine with view to adequately expose the problem as it exists. 

The study will commence by analyzing how to problem of drug abuse came into being. In this aspect, the study will then proceed to show the effect of drug abuse on student’s academic performance. Finally, the study intends to draw conclusion and make useful suggestion and recommendations in order to combat the menace of drug abuse. 

Academic Performance: Then combine it together and general comment what is academic is used to describe thing that relate to the work done in schools, colleges, and universities, especially work which involves studying and reasoning rather than practical or technical skills. What is academic performance by (Ellie Williams, 2013) when people hear the team “academic performance” they often think of a persons’s GPA. However, several factors indicate a student’s academic success while some may not graduated top of their class, they may hold leadership positions in several student groups or score high on standardized test such as the statistic the SAT or Act Account.