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ABSTRACT
The topic of this research is entitled “The influence of drug abuse on academic performance of students in selected secondary school in Etche Local Government Area. The sample technique for this study is a simple random sampling technique which was used to determine a sample size of 200. The instrument of data collection was the question and the theories were used to explain the research problem, they are (1) the cap control theory of drug abuse, the bad-habit theory of drug abuse and (2) the interactive models of non-medical drug abuse. The findings of this study rest on the reality that drug abuse was negative influence on academic performance of students in selected secondary school through poor academic performance. A number of factors have attributed to high cases of drug abuse in our secondary schools. The recommendations of the study are outlined as effective implementation of enacted law on drug abuse, workshop and sensitization programmes, role of parents and teachers, employment of services of professional counsellors and curriculum provisions to reduce to the barest minimum, the problems of drug abuse.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background to the Study
A drug can be defined as any chemical, solid, liquid or amorphous substance derived from plants, animals or mineral resources which is approved externally or internally to cause some desirable effects (Amanda, 2013). Drugs when properly used or taking into a working organism produces the desired results and may modify one or more of its functional parts. It is usually presented by a medical practitioner (Amamda, 2013).
Such drugs or substances are either of vegetables, animals or mineral origin. They could be prepared for the human body that produces these desired results into the treatment of diseases and ailment.
The negative effect of drugs is also referred to as drug abuse. According to Ulorma (2009), drug abuse is therefore, defined as the excessive consumption of a drug by any individual. Drug abuse results when there is self-injection or from the approved medical in a manner that deviates from the approved medical usage. Drug abuse is involved in the following:
- Excessive use of drugs and use of unprescribed drugs.
- Use of hard drugs.
Accordingly, excessive use of drugs and use of unprescribed drugs occur when an individual takes on drugs without following the current prescription of the medical doctor (Bromosele, 2014). Use of hard drugs is capable of affecting the state of the body or mind by either depressing or stimulating the central nervous system or producing other biochemical to the society at large.
According to Agwusike (2011), drug abuse is the use of drugs above the prescribed dosage and for the purpose other than for the original prescription. The society of doctors and pharmacists owned at the uncontrollable ways and manners in which the drugs are sold to the public in our markets and medical stores which are contributory factors to drug abuse. In some nations of the world, drugs other than those for common pain, cough and cold remedies are solid in a doctor’s prescription.
Drug abuse could be viewed from different perspectives depending on the focus under view. It could be described as a non-medical use of drugs, which may cause harm to the individual and the society. These could be drugs which do not conform to the society’s cultural norm of a society.
People generally misuse or abuse drugs because the substance alter the mode of behaviour of an individual. Over the years, the use of hard drugs like tobacco sedative, Indian hemp, alcohol, heroine, morphine, cocaine to mention but a few have drastically been on the increase in the world (Agwusike, 2011).
The history of drug abuse could also be traced to the urge of men wanting to have power to receive tension, satisfy the needs obtained, obtained occasional release from problems and the need to find a cure for some ailments (Ulorma, 2009). The early history of drugs is inseparable from the early history of medicine. Most traditional drugs are always misused or abused because of lack of dosage to determine the quantity required by the user. The expiration period is never stated, substances that are today referred to as drugs originated from herbs and other natural chemicals, careine, which is the main ingredient in tea or coffee and nicotine as in tobacco or cigarette is widely used as mind stimulant and tension receiving drugs. They are considered socially acceptable and used recreationally. However, they produce dependence and are also known to cause harm (Ulorma, 2009). Other drugs, although are used medically for the treatment of one ailment or the other, may also cause problems for the individual. Examples of such drugs are psychoactive drugs or sedatives like valium and megaton which are sleeping pious and painkillers that are medically prescribed but may be abused thus causing dependence and harm (Amanda, 2013).
According to Ulorma (2009) drugs can be classified into the following:
- Stimulants such as tobacco, cocaine, or coffee.
- Depressant such as alcohol and other substances of depressants like heroine.
- Hallucinogens like hysergie, acid diethyl lamine (ISO), phylogibin megaline. A lot of damage have been done to human health as a result of drug use and abuse and these damages could be mental, physical, emotional and psychological, so that it has in a long way reduce lifespan of man (Amanda, 2013).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Drug abuse is on the increase in an alarming rate in Nigeria. About two decades ago, incidence of drug trafficking in Nigeria was low and abuse was minimal, but today drug has destroyed and killed many people in the society. Students in our secondary schools are not left out in this act. In view of this, the research is embarked on to highlighting the influence of drug abuse on academic performance of students in selected schools.
Over the years, it has been observed that students from secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State are in the form of drug addiction or the other as well as being involved on drug abuse.
Great misfortunes have been evident as a result of drug abuse; chains of road accidents that have claimed lives of men. Drug addicts when severely under the influence of drugs walked along the street half-naked and committed serious crimes like rape, assassination and murders.
The following rhetorical questions are asked as follows: (a) does drug abuse influence academic performance of students? (b) What measures have the government put in place to make drug abuse a thing of the past?
It is hoped that this research work would help the teachers, school authorities and the society at large to minimize the use and effects of drugs in schools. Also, this study will encourage the government of Etche Local Government Area to establish drug rehabilitation centre with the help of the Ministry of Health and Drug Inspection Units (DIU) to care for addicts.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of drug abuse on academic performance of students in selected secondary schools which exist in Etche Local Government Area.
The objectives of the research are to:
- a) explain the causes of drug abuse in secondary school.
- b) discuss the influence of drug abuse on the academic performance of students.
- c) proffer solutions to the problems of drug abuse in secondary schools as a way of rapidly improving the academic performance of students.
1.4 Research Questions
These questions are proposed to guide the research:
- a) What are the causes of drug abuse in secondary schools?
- b) Are there influences of drug abuse on the academic performance of students?
- c) What are the possible solutions to the problems of drug abuse in secondary school as a way of rapidly improving the academic performance of students?
1.5 Significance of the Study
Accordingly, this study is of great importance to the teachers, the students, the government, health organization and future researchers.
They are briefly discussed one after the other.
- a) Teachers and students: The research is significant to both teachers and students in the sense that it will create awareness for them of the existence of the drug abuse and its harmfulness in the areas of school premises with a view of devising possible methods of preventing drug abuse by both teachers and students. Furthermore, the students will be given the necessary knowledge about the use of drugs in order to develop good characters that would make them good ambassadors in future.
- b) Government: The study is highly significant to a large extent as it will help the government and health organization to the able to have laudable health objectives towards the eradication of drug abuse among societal inhabitants. Similarly, laws could be reenacted through the National Assembly of those guilty of drug abuse to serve as a determent to other.
- c) Future Researchers: The recommendations of the research would be useful to future researchers who will utilize it as literature in chapter of the investigation.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study is limited to evaluating the influence of drug abuse on the academic performance of student in selected secondary school in Etche Local Government Area. The respondents will be chosen from five selected secondary schools in the local government area.
1.7 Operational Definitions of Terms
The terms that will be defined in this study include the following:
- Academic performance: This is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.
- Dependence: Dependence is a static, psychic, and also sometimes physical resulting in the interaction between a living organism and a drug characterized by behavioural and other respect which will always include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effect and sometimes avoid discomfort of its absence.
- Dosage: A specific quantity of medication to be administered to those who are sick.
- Drug: Any substance that when taken in the living organism may modify one of its functions.
- Drug abuse: This is the process of misusing and abusing drugs that makes the victim of the drug to misbehave.
- Narcotic: A drug which produces abnormally deep sleep.
- Pharmacist: One skilled in pharmacy (cooking of medicine) or a druggist.
- Sedative: Drug that sooth.