ABSTRACT
The study examines the effects of drugs abuse
on student performance in Yoruba language in secondary school. With the
following specific set objectives: to find out the level of drug abuse among
BSU students, to ascertain the types of drugs that are mostly abuse among students
of Benue State University, the causes of drug abuse among students of Benue
State University, the effect of drug abuse among undergraduate students of
Benue State University and possible solutions to the menace of drug abuse among
undergraduate students of Benue State University. The theoretical framework
adopted was on differential association theory and structural strain theory.
The study was a descriptive survey research. Findings from this study revealed
that, majority of the respondents believe the level of drug abuse among
students of Benue State University is moderate. On the drugs that are mostly
abuse by students of Benue State University, the study findings reveals that,
majority of the respondents believe that alcohol is the most common type of
drug abuse by students of Benue State University. On the causes of drug abuse
among students of Benue State University, study results shows that, majority of
the respondents believe peer pressure is the cause of drug abuse among students
of Benue State University. On the effects of drug abuse among students in Benue
State University. The findings revealed that, majority of the respondents
believe examination malpractice is the effect of drug abuse among students of
Benue State University. On possible solutions to the menace of drug abuse among
Undergraduate Students of Benue State University. The result findings indicates
that, majority of the respondents believe proper orientation of students can
help solve the problem of drug abuse among students of Benue State University.
Base on the results of the study, it concludes that, Drugs are a source of
medication and treatment for various illness and preventive disease if properly
prescribe by medical professionals. But drugs wrongly use without medication
prescription
has negative consequences for the academic,
social, psychological and physical development of students. Furthermore, the
study recommends
that, , there should be proper orientation of
students on the dangers
associated with drug abuse. This should be
embark upon by departmental
heads, student union government and all
registered associations and
clubs on campus in their orientation
programmes organize for fresher’s
as this will enable them avoid the take of
illicit drugs. Also,
counseling services should be provided by
counseling unit of our
Nations institutions of higher learning to
students already addicted
with the social problem of drug abuse in
order to reduce the level of
their intake and help them recover from its effects
on their academic
loss.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Since the early times, herbs, leaves and
plants inform of drugs have
been used to heal and control diseases.
Plants have been utilized as
medicines for thousands of years. The specific plants to be used and
the methods of application for particular
ailments were passed down
through oral history from generation to
generation (Samuelsson, 2004).
The use of drugs in itself does not
constitute any danger, because
drugs correctly administered have been a
blessing. Falco (1988) as
cited by Sambo (2008) asserts that, chronic
use of substances can
cause serious irreversible damage to
adolescent’s physical and
psychological development. The use of drugs
could be beneficial or
harmful depending on the mode of use.
Apart from knowing the harmful effects of
substance abuse, various
studies have pointed out that among the
reasons students abuse drugs
are: for experimental purpose, curiosity,
peer and family influence,
lack of parental supervision, personality
problems, socioeconomic
issues, need for extra energy for work, to
build up confidence,
frustration, to achieve happiness, to reduce
fear, drug availability,
need to maintain drug habit in order to avoid
withdrawal syndrome, to
feel good, to relieve stress, to sleep, to
keep awake, to enhance
sexual performance, age, unemployment,
poverty, and for no reason.
With the increasing rate of substance abuse,
an increasing rate of
violence has been observed among high school
and university students.
Among the highest in the drugs abused by
undergraduates in a northern
Nigerian university, are: cigarette, brewed
alcohol, locally brewed
alcohol, kolanut, apsirin and cananbbis
(Essien, 2010).
Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug among world
population followed by tobacco (Essien,
2010). In the United Kingdom,
cross-sectional studies have shown that a
substantial number of
students used illicit drugs, mainly cannabis,
at some time during
their lives (Oshodi, Aina & Onajole 2010)
The motive behind drug abuse may be sociological, psychological, out
of curiosity, boredom, to alleviate fear,
derive sexual and physical
pleasures, or family background. Despite the
fact that drug abuse has
adverse effects on the youths by changing
their brain perception of
difficulties and problems, the number of
undergraduates that use or
abuse stimulants has steadily increased in
recent years (Alan, 2003)
Also, some University students who experience
dissatisfaction with
life due to anger, frustration, academic
failure and boredom, consume
alcohol to fit in and serve as a consolation.
This invariably affects
their academic performance hence hours that
should be use for study
are diverted to rest and sleep after its
consumption (Alan, 2003).
Efforts of Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and
other governmental agencies to stem the tide
of drug abuse in Nigeria
has been meet with stiff resistance of users
at different places
across the nation thereby increasing the incidence
of drug abuse cases
in spite of their continued and destruction
of such illicit drugs, the
rapid rise in the number of cases of drug
abuse among youths whom are
mostly students is still on the increase.
(Akinyemi 2008). Hence the
need for the present study which is to
determine the effects of drug
abuse on the academic performance of Benue
State University students.
1.2 Statement of the problem
A report by National Agency for Food Drug
Administration and Control
NAFDAC (2008) noted that the abuse of licit
and illicit drugs is
forming a student sub-culture in Nigeria.
This development is a
significant concern for Nigerian society.
When a drug is abused it
causes injury to the brain and often
irreversible alterations in the
central nervous systems. When psychoactive
substances destroy several
thousand neurons, the consequences are fatal
and a number of students
end up under performing in their academics
when under the control of
this mode stimulating and controlling
substance and some have died
from drug overdoses (Ekpenyong, 2012).