CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Drug refers to substance which by virtue of the chemical nature they possess, is capable of influencing the structure and function of living tissue (Ogunlade and Oladehinde, 1995). Drugs include, those synthetically produced as well as those obtained from plants and the concentrate, extracts etc. Rotimi (2000) define substance abuse as any pattern of substance use that results in repeated adverse social consequences, related to drug taking such as failure to meet work, family or school obligations and interpersonal conflicts. Substance abuse can begin at any age. There are some parents who deliberately introduce their children to alcohol consumption at an early age.

The rate at which adolescents indulge in the act of drug abuse and alcoholism is remarkably high. Drug abuse and alcohol are important problems that affect school teenagers at earlier ages. Young people more often experiment with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during the secondary school period. Rotimi (2008) posited that 73% of students under his study said that they have used alcohol before; 65% had used tranquilizers; cocaine 6%, opium 5%, methamphetamine 4%, heroin 3%. He further stated that 79% of the students indicated social reasons such as partying, 29% said that they indulge in the acts for academic reasons. Nevertheless, 16% of the students said that their academic performance had suffered as a result of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism.

Priscilla, Kenneth, Riyadh, Nilen (The America Public Health Journal, 2007) stated that prevalence rate of alcohol use, binge drinking, cigarette and marijuana smoking were significantly high among students with better academic performance, (P<0.1) compared with students with better academic performance, whereas in South Africa, prevalence rate was higher among students with better academic performance (P<.05).

Moreso, Shehu and Idris opined that current use of cigarette and cannabis occurred significantly more in the male population. No significant sex differences were noted for other drugs (Salicylates, analgesics, antibiotics and stimulants).

However, it is conspicuous that the use of drugs, smoking and alcoholism is present among secondary school students, regardless of gender difference. Therefore, this study intends to examine the prevalence and effect of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism among senior secondary school students within the area of intended study.

Drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism are considered to be a major public health particularly among students. Rotimi (2000) in his study on prevalence of drug abuse observed that 94% of the respondents had used drugs before. Alcohol was the commonest substance of abuse (75%). The negative impact of drug use was seen mostly on their academic performance; thus, the use of drugs, smoking and alcoholism was prevalently very high.

The worrisome trend in the abuse of drugs smoking and alcoholism and its numerous consequences has revealed that there is a high prevalence. Eneh and Stanley, (2004) conducted a study on the pattern of substance use among one thousand and forty nine (1049) students of four secondary school in Port-Harcourt, River State, Nigeria. He used self-administered questionnaire that showed that eighty seven percent (87%) of the respondents were using at least one substance.

The negative consequences of drug abuse and alcoholism span well beyond the parameters of secondary school as the users themselves, the school and the community are affected. The acts are associated with increased absenteeism from class and poor academic performance. The majority of injuries, accidents, vandalism, sexual assaults, rape, fighting, armed robbery, thuggery and other crimes in and off the school premises are linked to alcohol and other drug use.

More so, some factors responsible for drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism are as a result of influence of friends at parties, school mates’ relations at night parties, family background and the media among others. Some students indulge in the acts of ignorance of the effects.

Thus, it is imperative to shed light on the prevalence and effect of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism in the local educational district of the intended study.

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.

Statement of Problem

The problem inherent in drug abuse, smoking, alcoholism and their effects on students’ academic performance cannot be overemphasized. This is because, abuse of drug, smoking of cigarette, Indian-hemp, cocaine or and heroine, and reckless in-take of alcohol, militate against students’ high academic achievement in schools.

Not only that, the prevalence of assorted criminal acts and or school disciplinary problems perpetrated by students these days cannot be separated from their bent minds which is as a result of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism. For this reason, many students are involved in rape cases, stealing, fraudulent activities in examinations, violent demonstrations, sexual recklessness, disrespect to both school authorities and parents, bullying and other immoral acts that are against the norms and values of any decent society or ideal school system.

The above identified problems gave rise to the examination of prevalence and effect of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism on students’ academic performance in schools.

Research Objectives

This study intends to investigate the prevalence and effect of the drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism on students’ academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District. The following are the specific objectives of the study:

1. To establish how alcohol abuse influences student’s academic performances in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District.

2. To examine how Drug abuse influences student’s academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District.

3. To evaluate how Tobacco smoking influence students’ academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District.

Research Questions

The study will attempt to answer the following questions:

1. How does alcohol abuse influence students’ academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District?

2. How does Drug abuse influence students’ academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District?

3. How does Tobacco smoking abuse influence students’ academic performance in Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District?

Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will be useful to the Community, Institutions of higher learning and the State Government. The study will reveal the influence of major drugs on students’ academic performance and in their behaviour aspects. There are many parents and lecturers with questions as to why their students do not perform as expected, the government is also looking for explanations as to why the youth are not innovative and as to why most of them drop out of school.

Nigeria, like many other counties, is faced with the social problem of high rates of drug abuse. To make matters worse, the percentage of drug abusers in the population increases yearly despite the efforts to eradicate the problem. Failure to solve this problem not only threatens the life of individuals, but also the economic and social development of the country as a whole. The current study is useful in contributing to the general body of knowledge in this area. Beyond that, however, it also explores the potential of universities as well as other schools to curb the drug problem.

The study should help to make local government; administrators, local community as well as students aware of the factors hindering the effectiveness of the approaches which attempt to curb drug abuse and, where possible, create opportunities to eradicate the problem. The proposed programme would be useful in educating all youths and adults in Osun state, on the risks of drug consumption. Thus, this study would play an important role in reducing, or even preventing high rates of drug use and abuse. Based on the findings, recommendations will be made. If followed, these recommendations would be useful to administrators and local government in curbing drug abuse in schools through improving existing educational programmes, and striving to develop ones that are even more efficient. A part from proposing more effective preventive measures in relation to drug abuse, the study will also provide a background for other studies in its prevention. This would help in promoting a drug-free school environment and better academic performance, thus improving the standards of education in the state. In the absence of specific policies on substance abuse in schools this study will make important recommendations on the way forward.

Scope of the Study

The findings of the study will be limited to five senior secondary schools under Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District. The schools will be selected from the 36 schools under Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District.

The scope of this study is limited towards finding the prevalence and effect of drug abuse, smoking and alcoholism on students’ academic performance of Ajeromi Ifelodun Educational District.

Limitations of the Study

Students were reluctant in providing information as they thought that the information was to be used to report them to the administration. Researcher assured respondents that this research was purely for academic purpose and their confidentiality was assured.

Assumptions of the study

In this study the researcher assumed that the reasons for students’ high prevalence of drug abuse are ones enumerated in the objectives of the study. Other factors have no or negligible influence on the frequency of drug abuse among students. Therefore the study findings, conclusions and recommendations are pegged on the factors of the study and all other factors held constant.