ASSESSMENT OF THE PERCEIVED EFFECT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS OF OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY, OSOGBO.
ABSTRACT
This study purposed to examine the influence of alcohol and drug abuse on the student’s academic performance in Osun state university. Drug abuse among University students had proved substance related problems in later life. The study sought to establish the effects of the drugs as a factor influencing on the performance of students in Osun state university. The objectives of the study were to establish how alcohol abuse influences student’s academic performances in Osun state university, examine how Marijuana abuse influences student’s academic performance, and to evaluate how Tobacco abuse influence students’ academic performance in Osun state university. Social development theory was employed. A descriptive survey design was used. The study was located in Osun state university. The target population was 7000 and a sample size was 171 respondents but only 144 respondents took part in the study. The data collection was done using questionnaires, interviews and observations. A pretesting was done before data collection. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics after coding and data cleaning. Frequency tables were used in presenting data. Majority of the respondents were male. The most abused drugs were alcohol, marijuana and tobacco being the least. The reasons for drug abuse were, curiosity, teachers and parents do take drugs, availability of drugs and peer pressure. The institution had mechanisms on dealing with students that had indulged on drug abuse such as campaigns and counseling. Majority of the respondents had negative attitude about drug abuse. Drugs were readily available at a cheap price within the institution proximity. The study noted that students who had abused alcohol, marijuana and tobacco were misbehaving and its effects were noted in low class attendance, poor performance and retake of respective courses. However, influence of drug abuse on academic performance differed from one respondent to the other as they were some students who performed well despite indulging on drugs. The study recommends for a database of university students who over indulge in substance abuse and they should be referred to right social workers who will lead them in interventions.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
The world we live in shows that drug abuse is a day to day increasing disaster. A drug is revealed to be a proactive substance especially on which is illegal and addictive, ingested for recreational use, a good example being Cocaine. Drug abuse is the misuse of; or overindulgence in drugs for purposes other than medical reasons, thus affecting the individual in a negative way physically, socially or cognitively (Kuria, 1996). The world is facing the problem of drug abuse. Not only does it affect psychological and physical well-being of the abusers. But also threatens the social and economic stability of a nation (Mendelson& Mello, 1992:19) Nigeria is faced with a growing problems of substance abuse. This affects citizens because it breeds grounds for domestic violence, crime, family disintegration among others social problems. Earlier on, consumption of drugs like psychoactive substances was strictly meant for elders in special social functions like circumcision and other rituals. As time came to pass there was an increased illegal use of drugs hence a record on prohibition of excessive intake of alcohol was issued in some areas.
A drug can enter the body system through inhaling, chewing, smoking, drinking, injection or rubbing on the skin. Social effects related to drug abuse are reflected in an individual’s lack of concentration and class work and loss of memory. Drug abuse is responsible for lost wages a good example being reported that in South Africa, it has been estimated that the use of alcohol costs the country close to 1% its gross domestic products (Weich, 2006:436), destruction of property in schools, soaring health care costs and broken families. This is a problem affecting us all as parents, children, teachers, taxpayers, workers and government officials.
As per (UNODC, 2005) it reported that there were about 5% people which is 200 Million people worldwide consumed drugs at least once towards the end of the year and these people range between the age of 14-65 a report by (UNDCP, 2012) also showcased that 30% of the world population are said to have consumed tobacco and 5% of the world population between the age of 15-16 years do indulge in the intake of drugs illegally. In the year 2014 an estimated 22.5 Million Americans of the 12 and above who reported themselves to get alcohol or illicit drug do use treatment, among them 11.8 Million adults did seek for a mental health treatment and counseling (SAMHSA, 2014). (UNODC, 2012) accounted for Africa and Asia as the population who were using Opium. In year 2013 it was reported that East Africa markets and this was made easier due to its major seaports and airports, porous land borders which provided many entries as well as exit points and also due to the unprotected coastline. Heroin was brought to East Africa from Burma, Pakistan and Afghanistan through Thailand and thus found its way to South Africa, a reverse movement of drugs occurs from South Africa to Kenya and Tanzania (UNODC, 2013) Zanzibar becomes the main entry point (INCSR, 2015) for marijuana which was exported from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the East African Coast. In Tanzania according to (DCC, 2011) the report shows that the actual numbers of drug addicts in Tanzania was to be between 150,000 and 500,000 countywide. Tanzania, is the second county after Kenya in East Africa with a soaring number of drug users majorly being school going teenagers which is a 96% increase. Kenya has reported soaring rate of substance abuse among students in public universities, (Odek-Ogundeetal , 2004) indicated rates of 84% alcohol us and 54% for tobacco.
Conclusively, substance abuse had become a worrying problem to the success and lives of the youth which is evidently a source of sorrow to the guardians, parents and relatives and also a big challenge to the nation as a whole. Therefore, members of the public and the concerned stakeholders should act urgently and exert adequate attention to the soaring of substance abuse among the youth who will be pour leaders tomorrow.
