Drug Abuse and Its Effect on Tertiary Students Learning Capability and Academic Achievement in Rivers Students
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The broad objective of this study is to examine drug abuse and its effect on tertiary students learning capability and academic achievement in Rivers Students. Specifically the study sought to:
- Examine the drugs that are mostly abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University.
- Ascertain the causes of drug abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University.
- To investigate the effect of drug abuse among undergraduate students of River State University.
- To proffer possible solutions to the menace of drug abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework presents independent variables such as drug and drug related substances, school factors, student’s characteristics and teacher characteristics. The independent variables and the intervening variables such as attitude towards drugs and teachers attitudes towards drug have an effect on participation in learning among students as manifested in delinquency, truancy, declining academic performance and school dropout which are the dependent variables.
Drug Abuse
Drug is a substance used for medical purposes that change the function of the body. Carroll (1989) sees drug as any substance which upon entering the body changes the body function and structure. Drug abuse is the substance abuse or disorder that is characterized by a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problem or distress (Njoku 2004). Coleman (2010) sees drug abuse as the scenario when drug is taken more than it is prescribed. It could also be seen as the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of prescription or over – the – counter drugs.
Carroll (1989) further noted that drug abuse as the deliberate use of chemical substances for reasons other than intended medical purposes and which occasioned physical, mental, emotional or social impairment to the users.
Drug addiction also called substance dependent or chemical dependency is a disease that is characterized by a destructive pattern of drug abuse that leads to significant problems involving tolerance, to or withdrawal from the substance, as well as other problems that use of the substance can cause to sufferer, either socially or in terms of their work or school performance (Akus 2010).
A drug addict is said to be someone whose life has become dependent on drugs, hence drugs abuse (Obaje 2009). Drug addiction is dependence on a legal or illegal drug or medication, drug addiction can cause serious, long- term consequences, including problems with physical and mental health, relationship, and the law (Moronkola 2003).
Academic performance is the outcome of education, the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals. Academic performance is commonly measured by examination or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which aspects are most important, procedural knowledge such as skills or declarative knowledge such as facts (Annie, Howard, Mildred 1996). The academic performance of students is greatly affected by drug abuse and addiction. Hence Coleman (2010) concludes that drug abuse and addiction is detrimental to the socio-economic and intellectual advancement of the nation.
Drug use by students has hampered education and management in Nigerian secondary schools. In Nigeria, recent statistics suggest that one in every three secondary school students consumes alcohol. Another 8.3% smoke cigarettes while almost one in every ten (9.1%) chew Miraa. About 3% smoke bhang and use hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, mandrax and tranquilizers (The DailyTimes, 2004). In Nigeria a report by NAFDAC (2008) found that alcohol is also the most commonly abused drug with about 61% of the population engaging in its use. The same report indicated that 40.9% of students were abusing alcohol in Nairobi Province and 26.3% in Central Province. According to Perkinson (2002), alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and dulls the brain making learning a difficult task.
Drug abuse is the taking of drugs or a deliberate use of drugs for purposes other than its intended purpose without the supervision of a physician or a medical practitioner while drug addiction is the continuous uncontrolled, compulsive use of a drug not only to include intoxication but also to avoid the tortures of withdrawal. Despite the unrelenting effort of individuals, agencies, mass media and the government at different levels against drug abuse, the prevalent practice among Post-Primary school students, Tertiary Institution, teenagers and even adults in the community has not decreased but rather continued to increase geometrically.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain drug abuse and its effect on tertiary students learning capability and academic achievement in rivers students. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing drug abuse and its effect on tertiary students learning capability and academic achievement in rivers students
Summary
This study was on drug abuse and its effect on tertiary students learning capability and academic achievement in rivers students. Three objectives were raised which included: Examine the drugs that are mostly abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University, ascertain the causes of drug abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University, to investigate the effect of drug abuse among undergraduate students of River State University and to proffer possible solutions to the menace of drug abuse among undergraduate students of Rivers State University. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected students of Rivers State University. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The use of substance among students may directly impair academic activities which limits their academic performance for most students who use drugs at a lower level, however, drug use may serve as a maturational “snare” that keeps some students engaged in deviant peer groups as others move on to more normative groups, thus having a long term direct effect on educational attainment. Other studies have discussed similar processes, in which differential pathways to problematic outcome are determined, in part, by the level of multiple risk behaviors.
If we believe that multiple mechanisms are operating, then it follows that preventive interventions aimed at improving academic engagement should broaden their focus beyond drug use in adolescence. Community and family risk factors should also be targets of intervention. Our findings shows that drug use in students partially mediated the effect of their externalizing behaviors on college , completion, students externalizing also had direct effects on both students reading achievement and on degree completion. This implies that a powerful target of intervention should be externalizing behavior, especially for time who have not yet developed heavy or problematic level of alcohol and or drug use
Recommendation
Consequently, the study recommends that:
- Government should prevent the cultivation/sales of Indian Helm and other deadly herbs that encourage drug abuse.
- Government should strictly enforce its existing laws against drug abuse through its regulatory agencies.
- Parents and guardians should Endeavour to monitor their children and wards so that they do not engage in drug abuse.
- Campus security should be heightened and regular check should be carried out.
Counseling education should be introduced in campuses to revive those who have already been engaging in the act
Reference
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