ABSTRACT: This study investigated Drug Abuse And Students Academic Performance In Social Studies In Secondary Schools. A quasi-experiment research design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of all social studies students in Junior Secondary Schools in the area in which twenty five (25) students from each of the eight (8) selected secondary schools which made up a total of two hundred (200) students as the sample size selected through simple random sampling techniques. Social Studies Achievement Test (SOSSAT) was the major instrument used in data collection for the study. The data collected for the study were analyzed using independent t-test statistical tools. The result obtained from the analysis revealed that drug abuse significantly influences the academic performance of students in social studies. Specifically, the good or normal student were found to performed academically better than their counterparts who engage themselves in different form of drugs abuse such as drinking alcohol and smoking of cigarette.
Drug Abuse And Students Academic Performance In Social Studies In Secondary Schools
Based on the result obtained from the findings, it was recommended that, students should disengage themselves from drugs abuse and inculcate the habit of reading their books and take their studies seriously thereby making teaching and learning of social studies in the school easy and meaningful.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
There is a growing concern worldwide today overgrowing number of youths using drugs that the law does not permit of prohibit. The existence and extent of drugs use has been identified as one of the greatest problems in learning institutions. This affects various aspects of learning such as students’ discipline. Drugs are chemical substances that modify mental, emotional and behavioural functioning, Apa (2014).
According to the World Drug report (2005), the use of illicit drugs has increased throughout the recent years and the report further states that a major world trends is the increasing availability of many kinds of drugs. A report released by United Nations Drugs Control Programme (2004) 4.8% of the global population consume drugs but the working fact is that according to United Nations Drugs Control Programme executive directors (2004) those hooked are the youths. A survey in the Czech Republic showed that 37% of new drugs users were teenagers between 15-18 years old.
Drugs use in particular is heroine becoming a serious problem in Egypt where around 6% of sampled secondary school students admitted to have experience with drugs. In Pakistan, it was reported that the share of those who started using heroine at 15-20 years has doubled Africa’s role in global drugs supply chain is increasing. Already the continent is second largest region of cannabis production, trafficking and consumption accounting for 26% of global seizures of this drug in 2001, UNODC (2004).
In Nigeria today, drugs use has become prevalent than at any other time, NACADA (2001), majority of the users are students in Secondary Schools, Tertiary College and Universities. According to NACADA (2010), the use of drugs has spread at a fast rate and reached every part of the country. Use of drugs can be traced back to pre-colonial drugs when alcohol and other drugs were used and consumed as part of traditions of the communities. The communities had generally consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs was a privilege of the elders, more often than not male elders. The actual existence of drugs use as a social problem was because of strong social structure. The low levels or non-existence of drugs use was sustained as a result of strong kinship ties that ran through different social institutions. Traditions and taboos where upheld to discourage the misuse of drugs.
One of the most common consequences of drugs use is keeping up with on academic responsibilities. According to National Institution on Alcohol and Alcoholism (2005) in United States of America, about 25% of students experience difficulty in Academic due to drugs use. Such difficulties include earning low grades, doing poorly in test, missing classes and falling behind in academic performance.
Even students who don’t use drugs may suffer academically as a result of their peers taking drugs. The so called secondary effect of drugs include taking care of friends on drugs and being victims of assault which can affect school work of students who don’t use drugs. These consequences can have dramatic effect on the academic performance of the students, administrators’ report that significant number of students who drop out of school do so because drugs interference with their academics.
Drugs use undermine academic mission of schools, colleges and universities. Drugs use and its effect on students’ performance can lead to a decline result; schools may face declining retention rates and poor reputation. Schools with reputation of drugs use may attract students who engage in high risk behaviour and may discourage prospective students who are looking for an academically vigorous institution.
1.2 Statement of the problem
It has been observed that academic performance of students in secondary schools both in Junior WAEC/NECO are very poor despite the huge amount of money invested by the State Government of Education. Academic performances of students are still recorded poor. These poor performances, according to Jegede (2014) might be due to excess and deliberate use of drugs by students.
Drug abuse is the taking of drugs or a deliberate use of drugs for purpose other than its intended purpose without the supervision of a physician or medical practitioner while drug addition is the conditions, uncontrolled and compulsive use of drugs not only to include intoxication but also to avoid the tortures of withdrawal.
Drug Abuse And Students Academic Performance In Social Studies In Secondary Schools
Despite the unrelenting effort of individuals, agencies, mass media and the government at different levels against drugs abuse, the prevalent practice among secondary schools students, tertiary institutions, teenagers and even adults in the community has not decreased but rather continued to increase geometrically. It is speculated that students’ academic performance became affected when they start using drugs which have negative effect on academic performance such as missing class, failure in examinations, negative attitude to schools etc. therefore, this study sought to investigate influence of drugs abuse on academic performance in Social Studies among secondary school students.