The Causes And Effects Of Drug Abuse On The Performance Of Secondary School Students

The Causes And Effects Of Drug Abuse On The Performance Of Secondary School Students

Abstract

In order to identify the following, this study aims to evaluate the causes and effects of drug abuse on the academic performance of secondary school pupils in the Ikeja Local Government Area.

i. Student drug use

The causes of drug misuse among students, part two

Effects of drug misuse among students, section iii

iv. The government’s responsibilities towards drug misuse

Students from the six vetted secondary schools in the Ikeja Local Government Area were used in the study.

A set of questionnaires with 15 multiple-choice questions were employed as the study’s instrument to help participants identify the issues. Face-to-face interaction was used to administer the questions.

The gathered information was tallied and examined using a straightforward percentage tool.

Based on the study’s goal and the literature review, the findings were addressed.

According to the report, drug addiction among students is widespread, and plausible explanations include peer pressure, negligent parents, and more.

Unknowingly, substance misuse has caused pupils to forget things and do poorly in school.

Due to the aforementioned issues, parents, the government, and schools should keep an eye on their children and plan programs to teach them how to respect their bodies and abstain from narcotics.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 The Study’s Background

Drug usage occurs in every human community, whether it be primitive or developed. It is a widely held notion among people in human civilization that taking specific pharmaceuticals can help a person in a number of ways, including lowering stress levels, preventing and curing diseases and disorders, managing ailments, and easing pain and suffering in the affected body part. In actuality, drug usage has always been a staple of human culture. For instance, Homer’s cup of Helen was used to induce slumber and grant relief from curse, the Grecian oracle Delphi employed drugs, and the mandrake root provided the belldona chemicals that cause hallucinations (Akinlaye F. A. 2000).

The herbalists—the local doctors who employed roots and herbs to cure patients with a variety of diseases in the African region before the advent of mainstream medicine—existed and are still present today. 2000’s Akinlaye F.A. As a side effect, many medicines can cause tolerance, habituation, dependence, and addiction. In this context, “dependence” refers to a psychological or occasionally physical state that develops as a result of the interactions between a living organism and a drug. It is characterized by behavioral and other responses, always involving a compulsion to take the drug on a regular basis in order to experience its psychological effects and occasionally in order to avoid its absence. It is uncommon for drug abuse and drug trafficking to coexist. The definition of a drug is anything consumed that alters one’s level of consciousness. Dusek (1989). Drugs were described as “anything taken into the blood stream through any means for psychological or physical experience and these drugs affect the central nervous system” by the Association of Nigeria in 1989/90. Drugs can still be thought of as any non-food substance that has the potential to impair human functioning. (2010) Oladele M.O.A. He continued by saying that drugs may be utilized for disease prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. According to Saranson (1976), a drug is any substance other than food that, according to its chemical makeup, affects the structure or functionality of a living organism. According to the different definitions, a “drug” is any material or substance that is used to treat, prevent, or otherwise advance well health. Drugs are both natural and artificial compounds that have an impact on the body. Some medications are made from plants, while others are made from animal tissues or minerals. For instance, penicillin and other medicines like morphine are made in cultures of bacteria, yeast, molds, and other live microorganisms. Morphine, a potent painkiller, is extracted from poppy seed pods. Modern developments in science, technology, and drug development have increased drug production and, as a result, drug availability. The lack of a complete understanding of the beneficial or negative effects of these pharmaceuticals is a concern brought on by the growth in their accessibility. Three categories can be used to group drugs.Those are

1. The Drugs That Are Legal

2. The use of illicit drugs

3. Drugs that are socially acceptable

The legal pharmaceuticals are those that have been approved by society for sale, either with a prescription or without one, such as multivitamins, antibiotics, and paracetamol.

The illegal drugs are those whose production and sale are forbidden by the law. Hard substances like heroin, cocaine, and marijuana are among them.

The drugs that are considered socially acceptable by the general public are those that have an impact on the body systems of persons who use them, yet not being usually recognized as drugs by laypeople. Cigarettes, alcohol, cigars, tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco chewing or smoking are among the drugs that are socially acceptable.

Most medications, especially those that are considered legal, have specified dosages recommended by licensed physicians for a variety of diseases. Despite the recommended dosages, it has been noticed that some people struggle to adhere to the drugs they are given without a doctor’s prescription, either because they have previously used the medication (when it was prescribed) and had success, or because they have heard from friends and family about how well it works to treat their ailments.

When referring to drug abuse, the word “abuse” is defined or described as “wrong use of” or “bad use of.” According to Akinlaye (2000), drug abuse is defined as any excessive drug use, the use of drugs without a doctor’s prescription, or drug use that puts others at risk for social or physical harm.According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (1982), drug abuse is the constant or occasional use of excessive amounts of a drug in a way that is either related to or unrelated to accepted medical practice. Drug abuse refers to the self-administration of drugs in a way that differs from the accepted social and medical norms in a particular society.In Nigeria, drug users can be divided into three categories. Those are

1. Social group – These young people are members of a gang or social group (such as neighborhood guys and some secondary school students), and they exchange drugs among themselves because they lack the money to buy cigarettes, alcohol, or hard narcotics. Also included in this category are adults who exclusively consume alcoholic beverages at social gatherings, such as Guilder beer, Star beer, etc.

2. Experimental group – Many young individuals experiment with drugs to see if they can find a solution to their difficulties.

3. Courier company This group’s members deal in heavy substances. They promote and market the substance using the get-rich-quick mentality that has recently taken over Nigerian society. Besides that, they also use medications. They became involved in the drug trade for the money. Akinlaye (2000) involved student artists, athletes, football players, and tailors in his pursuit for improved performance in long-distance drivers. Because of the intense competition in the world, many people turn to drugs to boost their productivity. Numerous football players, athletes in general, and artists have had their entries banned from international competition due to drug use. Lawyers, engineers, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, as well as children from wealthy backgrounds who can afford it, are among the numerous professions where drug use is prevalent. About 80 different medications were listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being frequently abused in 1982.

Drug No. 1

2. Liquor

3. Smoking

4. Cannabis

Heroin 5.

Six. Hallucinogens

7. Anesthetics

Industrial cleaners 8. Akinlaye, 2000

Alcohol needs to be highlighted because it is a substance that is widely used and considered legal in Burukutu (Bkt), regardless of whether it is manufactured locally from sugar cane, raffia palm, or grains. One example of this is local gin, which has numerous local names (Nwabuzo 2010). According to Tindall (2005), if the term “drug” is only used to refer to hard drugs or dangerous/illegal drugs, it means that substances like alcohol that cause addiction, dependence, and tolerance will not be present in the picture even though they are realistically present. This oversight of ignorance will blindfold society and deprive her of some of her responsibilities. Addiction and tolerance are significant negative effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

1.2 Definition of the Issue

The usage of drugs is viewed as a cankerworm that has eaten deeply into the fabric of African society. Additionally, it is observed

Many people consume drugs without understanding the benefits or negative consequences they may have on their bodies.

The academic performance of students is poor.

There is an urgent need to focus on potential remedies for drug abuse’s causes and effects.

The responsibility of parents and guardians in preventing drug misuse in children has diminished.

The government’s influence on drug usage in Nigerian society has diminished.

1.3 The Study’s Objectives

This study seeks to determine the impact of drug misuse on students’ academic performance as well as the government’s drug control policies and efforts to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse to human health.

1.4 Questions for Research

Is drug use among students in Lagos State widespread?

What could be the reasons why students are abusing drugs?

Has there ever been a drug abuse victim?

What impact does drug addiction have on pupils’ academic performance?

What are the government’s responsibilities and the steps it has taken to combat drug abuse?

1.5 Importance of the Research

This research project will provide students with an introduction. As it will educate children about the risks or negative effects that medications may have on them.

Additionally, it will deter students from using narcotics.

It will suggest potential ways for the government to deal with the issue of drug abuse.

It will educate parents on their responsibilities to protect their kids from drug use.

In addition to the foregoing, it will inform educators, curriculum designers, and the general public about potential measures to deter drug usage in society.

1.6 The Study’s Objectives

This study will focus on a few randomly chosen schools from Lagos State’s Ikeja Local Government Area.