CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background to the Study

Since the early times, herbs, leaves and plants in form of drugs have been used to heal and

control diseases. Plants have been utilized as medicines for thousands of years. The specific

plants to be used and the methods of application for particular ailments were passed down

through oral history from generation to generations (Samuelson 2004).

The history of the human race has also been the history of drug abuse. In itself, the use of drugs

does not constitute an evil. Drugs, properly administered, have been a medical blessing. For

example, herbs, roots, bark leaves and plants have been used to relieve pain and help control

diseases. However, over the past few decades, the use of illegal drugs has spread of an

unprecedented rate and has reached at every part of the world. Many researchers have sought the

case of drug abuse/addiction, so that effective treatments and preventive methods can be

implemented. Research has found that the problem arises from many aspects: family sources,

such mother father relationships, the way parents raise their children, the financial situation of

the family and the community such as illicit gathering places, wrong or bad values and neglect.

The people adolescents spend time with also affect his/her habits. Adolescents who have friends

using drugs are more prone to become addicts themselves. Friends tend to introduce others to

drug use. Another factor affecting drug abuse is the lack of knowledge of the drug’s effects.

Because of the complexity of the problem, collaboration between several groups must be

implemented to increase adolescents understanding amphetamines and themselves, to enable

them to develop self-worth and to prepare them to face drug temptations. Learning to say “NO”

1
to drugs. Society should support these ad descents in preparing them for such situations. Friends,

family, teachers and other members of the community should give support to adolescents so that

they are emotionally and mentally ready to fight against drugs. (Gunjan Manish, Tomar Deepali

and Singh Nentu, 2020).

The use of drugs in itself does not constitute any danger, because drugs correctly administered

have asserts that, chronic use of substance can cause serious irreversible damage to adolescent’s

physical and psychological development. The use of drugs could be beneficial or harmful

depending on the mode of use.

Apart from knowing the harmful effects of substance abuse, various studies have pointed out that

among the reasons students abuse drugs are: For experimental purpose, curiosity, peer and

family influence, lack of parental supervision, personality problems, socio-economic frustration,

to achieve happiness, to reduce fear, drug availability, need to maintain drug habit in order to

avoid withdrawal syndrome, to feel good, to relieve stress, to sleep, to keep awake, to enhance

sexual performance, age, unemployment, poverty and no reason.

College students continue to drink or use drugs, for some feel pressured to use alcohol at social

gatherings.

Drug or alcohol abuse offers a way to escape from school or work-related stress, financial

worries or relationship problems.

Provide a way to compensate for feelings of shyness or low self-esteem.

These drugs act as a substitute for satisfying relationships, educational accomplishments or self-

fulfillment. (Gunjan, et al, 2020).

2
Determination of the reason why people indulged in drug abuse may guide the development and

implementation of targeted interventions for reducing the burden of drug abuse in Nigeria. The

eleven studies that reported the reasons for drug abuse gave several reasons. The commonly

reported reasons included the following: to increase physical performance, to drive pleasure,

desire to relax/sleep experiment curiosity, to keep awake, to relieve stress, to relieve anxiety,

unemployment, frustration, and easy access. Exterior or curiosity motives, often in the form of

extreme explorative curiosity to experience ‘the unknown’ about drugs, motivate individuals into

drugs use and subsequent drug misuse and abuse. The first experience in drug abuse produces a

state of aroused in the form of extreme happiness and pleasure, which in turn motivates users to

continue.

(Abubakar Ibrahim Jatau, Abubakar Sha’aban, Kabiru Abubakar Gulma, Zayyanu Shitu, Garba

Mohammed Khalid, Abubakar Isa, Abubakar S. Wada and Mohammed Mustapha 2021).

With the increasing rate of substance abuse, an increasing rate of violence has been observed

among high and university students.

Among the highest drug/abused by undergraduates in Northern Nigerian University are: kolanut,

aspirin and cannabis (Esslen, 2010).

Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug among world population followed by

tobacco (Esslen, 2010). In the United Kingdom, cross-sectional studies have shown that a

substantial number of students used illicit drugs mainly cannabis, at some time during their lives

(Oshodi, Aina and Onayole 2010).

The most frequently implicated drugs, consistently reported by the majority of the studies were;

Cannabis, Codeine, Amphetamine/Dexamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, Diazepam and Cough

Syrup; Peactivan (Fencamfamine), Mandrax and Tramadol.

3
Some drugs were frequently reported by studies published in the early 80s Proplus (Caffeine

50mg) was reported by three papers published in 1982 and Madrax (Methadone and

Diphenhydramine) in studies published between 1981 and 2011. The absence of these drugs in

recent studies may be related to the decline in availability in Nigeria. Cannabis was the most

abused drug reported across the different study populations. The prevalence of Cannabis abuse

among members of the general public was 10.8% and 22.7% among adolescents among

secondary school students was between 0.6% and 34% with a pooled prevalence of 12.5%.

The abuse of Cannabis among undergraduate students was also common, with a prevalence at 8-

11% the frequency of cocaine abuse ranges from 1.6% to 4.8% among secondary school

students, 0.6-10% among undergraduate students. The widespread use of cocaine in Nigeria may

be related to easy access due to increased trafficking of drugs despite the existing legal control

measures. Codeine was third most frequently reported drug of abuse from concluded studies and

between 5.3 and 28% was recorded among undergraduate students and secondary school

students respectively.

The high rates of drug abuse among the younger persons could reflect the easy accessibility of

these drugs, peer group influence and possibly lack of effective counseling programs in

secondary schools and universities (Abubakar, et al, 2021).

1.1 Statement of the problem

A report by National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC (2008) noted

that the abuse of illicit and licit drugs is forming a student sub-culture in Nigeria. This

development is a significant concern for Nigerian society. When a drug is abused, it causes

injury to the brain and often irreversible alterations in the central nervous system. When

4
psychoactive substances destroys several thousand neurons, the consequences are fatal and a

number of students end up under performing in their academics when under the control this

made of stimulating and controlling substance and have died from drug overdoses.

Drug abuse has negative impact on the education of students all over the world. Drug abuse has

thus become a national concern in Nigeria, given its impact on education and feature leadership,

innovation and human resources. Students are formative years of education, career development,

social skills and identity formation. Despite National Agency for Food Drug Administration and

Control (NAFDAC)/National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other

organisation-based interventions, drug abuse is on the rise over 40% of students abusing various

types of drugs. Drug abuse appear to be well entrenched behavior among students. Drug abuse

has become a threat to lives and success of the youth. This is evidently a source of sorrow to

parents, guardians and relatives. It is also a big challenge to the whole nation.

Substance and drug abuse affect academic performance and mental health, causes physiological

and psychiatric disturbance and have been perceived to be the major causes in poor academic

performance of students, physical health problem, poor finance, emotional problems memory

impairment, risk factor for most chronic diseases, problems with family relationship.

It aids crime rate, cultism, mental illness, low self-esteem and self-respect, injuries to one’s

health, becoming a social outcast, bringing shame to their kin and low academic performance

and in some instance complete withdrawal from school.

5
Literature review by (Ekpenyong, 2012, Larissa et al 2013, and Johnston et al 2003) has shown

that studies has been conducted on the effect of drug abuse and academic performance of

undergraduate students in developed countries and even in other parts of Nigeria in the time past.

Besides, some literatures have shown contradictory views regarding the effects of drug abuse and

academic performance of undergraduate students as other studies found a negative effect of drug

abuse on academic performance of undergraduate students (Ekpenyong, 2012).

Drug abuse is pandemic problem even on the increase in an alarming rate in Nigeria today.

About two decades ago incidence of drug trafficking in Nigeria was low and abuse was minimal,

but today drug has destroyed and killed many. Students in secondary and tertiary institutions are

the majority in this act. In view of this, the research is embarked on to highlight the effect drug

abuse over the years, it has been observed that students from some secondary and tertiary

institutions are involved in drug abuse (Zahradden Adam, 2019).

The present research is aimed at investigating the effect of drug abuse and academic performance

of undergraduate students of Bauchi State University Gadau, Bauchi State. (BASUG).

1.2 Objectives of the study

The specific objectives are to:

1. Determine the level of drug abuse among Bauchi State university Gadau (BASUG)

students.

2. Examine the drugs that are mostly abused among undergraduate students of BASUG.

6
 3. Ascertain the causes of drug abuse among undergraduate students of Bauchi State

University Gadau.

4. To investigate the effects of drug abuse among undergraduate students of BASUG.

5. To proffer possible solutions to the menace of drug abuse among undergraduate students

of BASUG.

1.3 The Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to highlight the causes of drug abuse among students in Bauchi State

University Gadau by random sampling. This research is conducted and to recommend

appropriate solutions in the following:

a. Find the main causes of drug abuse on students in Bauchi State University.

b. Determine the effect of the drug abuse on students.

c. Find out the extent of drug abuse on students in Bauchi State University.

d. Find out the factors that influence drug abuse Bauchi State University.

e. To identify the strategies that could take to address the problem associated with the drug

abuse among students in tertiary institution.

1.4 Significance of the study

This research work is significant in various ways; first and foremost, this research will help in

creating awareness on the need to shun acts that are capable of leading to drug abuse among

youths and students in Nigeria. It will also help and be valuable source of academic and policy

material on the existing body of knowledge on the subject of drug abuse in Nigeria and its

academic affect among students as other researchers can as well build and barrow a leaf from it

while carrying out similar research. The research work will also help and assist in strengthening

the drug law enforcement agency as enshrine in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of

7
Nigeria (1999) as amended and its recommendations if properly implemented will go a long way

in curtailing the menace of drug abuse in our society. Finally, it will serve as a guide to both

parents, students, academicians, institutions, researchers and the government in formulating

policies that will help cure the menace of drug abuse and misuse in our society.

1.5 The Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to Bauchi state and academic Gadau and the effects of drug

abuse and academic performance of Bauchi State University students. The study is conforming

to the university environment because of its academic importance. However, this research is

limited to Bauchi State University because of the short time within which this research work is to

be conducted and lack of financial constrain of the research to cover the entire state and Nigeria

by extension.

1.6 Definition of terms

Academic Performance: Academic performance is the outcome of education, the extent to

which a student, teacher or institution have achieve their educational goal.

It is also described as how well one does in school and the achievement; she/he gets. Poor

academic performance entails bad grades while the desired academic performance is good

grades.

Drug: A drug refers to a substance that could bring about a change in the biological function

through its chemical actions. It is also considered as a substance that modifies perceptions,

cognition, mood, behavior and general body functions.

8
A drug can also be defined as any substance, which is used for treatment or prevention of disease

in man and animals. It also entails any licit or illicit substance that when swallowed, smoked,

sniffed or injected influence the function and operation of the mind and body.

Drug Abuse: Drug abuse is the taking of drugs or deliberate use of drugs for the purpose other

than its intended purpose without the supervision of a physician or medical practitioner. It also

refers to the misuse or wrong use of drugs which have adverse effects on the central nervous

system, mind, mood, behavior and personality of individual.

Also, it is the use of any drug to the point where it interferes with individuals health or with his

economic or social adjustment. Drug abuse also involves self-administration of drug in a manner

that deficits from the approved medical and social patterns within a given culture.

Undergraduates: Undergraduates are students of universities and colleges, they have graduated

from high school and have been accepted to college but haven’t graduated yet.

An undergraduate is a student at a university or college who is studying for his or her first

degree.

An undergraduate is a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially

bachelor’s degree.

9
References

Abdullahi, M.I. (2006). Control of Drug Abuse and some aspect of tobacco smoking: A societal

challenge. Isa Kaita Journal, 2(2), 7-20

Adebayo, A (2000). Pharmacological Principles in Drug Dependence, L.C. A.A. Gipate

Published 64-68 Canada.

Adebayo, A. (2002). Emerging Serious Psychopathology associated with abuse of cannabis

(Indian Hemp, Marijauna). Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 4(1): 329-330

Ekpenyong S. N (2012) Drug Abuse in Nigerian School: A study of selected Secondary

Institution in Bayelsa State, South-South, Nigeria Punishment of Students International

Journal of Scientific Research in Education, Vol.5 (3), 260-268.

Essien, A.J.A (2010). “Discipline in School” Journal of the Cross River, Educator, 1 (1) 40.

NAFDAC (2008). Do Drugs Control your Life? Know the Risks.

Larissa, M.J, Aro, H.M, Henrinksson, MM and Longvist, J.K (2013). Antisocial behavior in

adolescent.

Oshodi, O.Y., Aina, O.F. and Onajole, A.T. (2010). Substance use among Secondary School

Students in an urban setting in Nigeria: Prevalence and associated factors. African

Journal of Psychiatry, 1(3): 52-57.

Samuelsson, E.A. (2004). The “hang-loose” Ethic and Spirit of drug use. Journal of Health and

Social Behaviour, 9, 146-155.

10
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Introduction

This chapter review relevant literatures related to the study, it starts with conceptual clarification,

the level of drug abuse among students, the reasons that propel students to engage in drug abuse,

the types of drugs commonly abused by undergraduate students, the effects of drug abuse on the

academic performance of students, possible solutions of drug abuse among students and

theoretical frame which is on differential association theory and structural strain theory.

2.1 Review

The Concept of Drug

A drug refers to a substance that could bring about a change in the biological function through its

chemical (Okoye, 2001). Drugs are substances that change a person’s mental or physical state.

They can affect the way your brain works, how you feel and behave (Australian Government

Department of health, 2019).

It is also considered as a substance that modifies perceptions, cognition, mood, behavior and

general body functions (Balogun, 2006). Drug is a substance used as a medication or in the

preparation of medication. A substance other than food intended to affect the structure or

function of the body (Merriam Webster, 2021).

According to Fawa (2003), Drug is defined as any substance, which is used for treatment or

prevention of a disease in man and animals. Also, a drug may be defined as any licit or illicit

substances that when swallowed, smoked, sniffed or injected influence the function and

operation of the body and mind. A drug, or pharmaceutical is a substance used to prevent or cure

a disease or ailment or to alleviate its symptoms, (Investopedia, 2021).

11
Drug is any substance other than food, which by its chemical nature affect the structure and

function of a living organism (Folawiyo, 2000). This includes virtually all types of materials and

substances, including food, ingested, inhale or injected into the body. From these definitions, it is

obvious that heroin, cocaine, marijuana, barbiturates, amphemtmine, alcohol, coffee and

cigarettes are classified as drugs.

A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism’s physiology or

psychology when consumed.

Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support,

(Wikipedia, 2021).

2.2 Concept of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse refers to the misuse or wrong use of drugs which have adverse effects on the central

nervous system, mind, mood, behavior and personality of the individual (Dewan, 2002). Drug or

substance abuse is the recurrent use of substance is stopped. (Abba M. Abdullahi, 2019).

It is the use of any drug to the point where if interferes with an individual’s health or with his

economic or social adjustment. Omolade (2003) opines that drug abuse involves self-

administration of drugs in a manner that deviates from the approved medical and social pattern

within a given culture. Drag abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for

the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain. There are over 190million drug users

around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young

adults under the age of 30. (Sally Robertson, 2021).

NAFDAC, (2000) as cited by Haladu (2003) explained the term drug abuse as excsssive and

persistent self-administration of a drug without regards to the medically or culturally accepted

12
patterns. Drug abuse, the excessive, maladaptive, or addictive use of drugs for non medical

purposes despite, psychological and physical problems may arise from such use (Encyclopaedia

Britannica, 2021).

It could also be viewed as the use of a drug to the extent that it interferes with the health and

social function of an individual. It has been equally conformed that drug abuse is a serious

constraint to the effective teaching and learning process in the Nigerian educational system.

(Ajayi and Ayodele 2002).

Drug abuse is the deliberate use of chemical substances for reasons other than intended medical

purposes and which results in physical, mental, emotional or social impairment of the user.

(Gunjan, et al, 2020).

2.3 The Level of Drug Abuse among University Students in Nigeria

Over the past two decades, the abuse of drugs in Nigeria has rapidly increased and risen to

unprecedented level and no part of the country is safe from scourge (Njoku, 2008).

Drug abuse amongst Nigerian undergraduates identified dependence and addition as one of the

major consequence of drug abuse, characterized by compulsive drug craving seeking behaviors

are used that persist even in the face of Negative consequences. These changes are maladaptive

and inappropriate to the social or environmental setting, therefore may place the individual at

risk of harm. Drug use among youth’s and adolescent should be a matter of concern to all

Nigerians especially the socially government school heads, religious leaders groups and other

N.G.Os (Zahradden Adam, 2019). Drug and substance abuse is linked to rising crime rate,

HIV/AIDS prevalence, school unrest, family dysfunction, poverty and other malaise in the

country. At the greatest peril are the youths who are deliberately and technically recruited into

the drug culture through personal factor, uncontrolled media influences and social exposure

13
(Balogun, 2006). Drug abuse has a significant relationship with violence, cultism and

prostitution among students of tertiary institutions. (E.O. Onijigin and Rabiat I. Sanni 2020).

Drug use among adolescents continues to be an important issue in schools. The level of student

drug abuse has fluctuated over the past 25years (Ekpenyang, 2012).

In Nigeria, it has been consistently reported that drug abuse is a popular social practice among

tertiary school students. Many factors have been found to influence tertiary school students.

Many factors have been found to influence tertiary school students to indulge in drug abuse.

These include family factors, school factors economic factors and others. Unfortunately, drug

abuse is becoming a monstrous problem in Nigerian Society. Different literatures had reported

the prevalence of drug abuse in Nigerian tertiary schools. The prevalence of drug abuse was:

69.2% among tertiary school students, in Abeokuta, 27.5% among University of Uyo students,

46.6% among university students in Benin City and 55.4% (Stimulant Drink Use) among

university students in Sokoto. (Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi, Semeeh Akimwale Omoleke, Chika

Umar Aliyu, Jesunbo John Martins, Njideka Jacob Nwafar, Precious Ayomide Ogundipe, Mariya

Ibrahim Abdulsemeeh – Omoleke, 2020). Prevalence of abuse of different drugs varies

considerably by region and even country throughout the world (Johnston, Malley and Bachman,

2003). Estimates show that cannabis is the most widely abused drug in all parts of the world,

with an estimated 141 million people consuming it. In particular, large number of young people

experiment with cannabis: As high as 37% of school children and young adults in some countries

and 10-25% for past month use overall, cannabis abuse is increasing in many countries while

stabilizing in countries where it has reached high levels (Johnston, 2003).

14
There are recent indications of an increasing trend globally of students in tertiary institutions

indulging in this unhealthy habit of drug abuse. The period of study for a lot of students at the

university or tertiary is also regarded as a period of independence from family supervision,

farming of new relationships, acquiring new habits making independent decisions, balancing life

and academic pressures and becoming generally exposed to various values and cultures

(Makanjuola, Abiodun and Sajo, 2014). This newly acquired independence often result in

influencing youths to yield to unhealthy behaviors such as drinking, smoking and use of hard

drugs (Journal of humanities and social sciences, 2021).

Globally, United Nation (UN) estimates show that the abuse of synthetic drugs, particularly of

amphetamine type stimulants is wide spread and increasing rapidly. Some 30 million people

abuse such synthetic stimulants. Having spread relatively slowly in the 1980s abuse of

amphetamine-type stimulants increased rapidly in Europe, Australia, North America and South-

East Asia in the 1990s. While the abuse has stabilized in some of these areas, there is still a

continuous growth in global demand particularly in East and South-East Asia. Increasingly,

synthetic drugs have gained in significance, particularly among young people as their

recreational drugs of choice, often in combination with cannabis is popular in the industrialized

world, especially in Europe (United Nations Report, 1990).

Despite the proven dangers, drug use persists and, in some contexts, proliferates. Over the past

year, around 275 million people have used drugs up by 22% from 2010. By 2030, demographic

factors project the number of people using drugs to rise by 11% around the world, and as much

as 40% in Africa alone. New psychoactive substance also continues to be a challenge, as markets

witness the introduction of new drugs that are unpredictable and poorly understood. Regulatory

15
and legislative steps have been successful in stemming the tide globally but in low-income

countries the problem is on the rise between 2015 and 2019, South and Central America recorded

a fivefold rise in the amount of new synthetic psychoactive substances seized, while seizures in

Africa increased from minor to substantial amounts. Strong increases were also reported in South

and South-West Asia as well as the Near and Middle East. (World Drug Report, 2021 United

Nations Publication).

Reasons that Propel Students to Engage in Drug Abuse in Nigeria

Oshi, Aina and Onajole (2010) reported that, despite worldwide concern and education about

psychoactive substances, many adolescents have limited awareness of their adverse consequence.

They further explained that curiosity, social pressure and peer group influence are noted to be

primary reasons for substance misuse.

Factor influencing tertiary school students to indulge in drug abuse includes: family factors (e.g.

lack of parental care, poor family background), school factors (e.g. educational stress, poor

teacher-student relationships, nature of extracurricular activities), economic factors (e.g.

unemployment) psychological factors (e.g. frustration and emotional stress and others (Kehinde,

et al, 2020).

A story by Merki (1993) found that when students feel bad, some turn to drugs. Students are

affected more by these emotions and their inability to cope given their adolescent stage of

development. During this stage, identity formation is important and self concept plays a major

role. Some other factors that have continued to determine drug abuse among undergraduate

16
students include; peer group influence. Most university students are young adults below the age

of 24years. They are therefore susceptible to the influence of peers. Consequently, some of them

start smoking, taking alcohol and eventually advance to the use of hard drugs like marijuana,

heroin and cocaine (Falaye, 2001, Enang, 2007).

Reasons for drug abuse include the following:

i. To increase physical performance

ii. To drive pleasure

iii. Desire to relax/sleep

iv. Experiment/curiosity

v. To keep awake

vi. To relieve stress

vii. To relive anxiety

viii. Unemployment

ix. Frustration and

x. Easy access (Abubakar, et al, 2021).

Lack of self-confidence: usually many male students take drugs to boost their self-confidence in

a bid to approach their female counter parts for amorous relationship Erikson as cited by (Falaye,

2001).

Peer pressure and the desire of youths to explore and experiment are the reasons for drug abuse

among youths and students (Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHCS), 2021).

Reduction of stress and frustration: some students take drugs when they are under stress or feel

frustrated. Such ugly situations may arise from the death of a loved one, a quarrel between the

17
student and his/her parents leading to the teenager fleeing from home or maltreatment by a

stepmother (Ndu, Brown and Topp 2009).

Students use drugs due to various reasons such as experimental curiosity, peer pressure, lack of

parental supervision, personality problems due to socio-economic condition and the need for

energy to work for long hours. Other factors are the availability of drugs, the need to prevent the

occurrence of withdrawal syndromes, advertisement of alcohol or cigarettes, unemployment and

parental deprivation and emotional and psychological stresses (anxiety, frustration and economic

depression). However, among other dependents, the presence of drug users in the family is a

major factor of drug use by adolescents. (Roland Nnaemeka Okoro, Umar Lahai, 2021).

Academic stress: Some university students find it difficult to combine their academic programme

with other social activities (Makinde, 2004).

Consequently, many of them result to the use drugs either to study late in the night or relieve

tension. The use of drugs is particularly common during examinations.

The causes of drug abuse can be at an individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and

societal level individual causes include personal characteristics like one’s age, sex, level of

education and knowledge which is also linked to individuals inherited genetic aspect from

parents with alcohol use problem, inherited genetic aspect from parents with alcohol use

problem, interpersonal domain which is linked with adolescent’s social interactions with friends’

family and close relations. This also involves poor early childhood upbringing in the family due

to poor family and close relations. This also involves poor family life circumstances, institutional

level, the school culture is the main factor that influences students’ involvement in drug abuse

external environmental factors that may influence drinking. These include the availability of

18
affordable alcohol and the concentration of drinking outlets in the area surrounding the school

(Marygoretty E. and Adhiambo W.M, 2021).

Types of Drugs commonly abused by Undergraduate Students in Nigeria

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2000), alcohol is the most abused

psychoactive in the United States with approximately 90% of students using it before they leave

high school.

Approximately a quarter of the university students in Nigeria have ever used substances/drugs

like cocaine, marijuana and tramadol among others, while close to one-fifth are current users. A

study has shown that the prevalence of drug use has increased since the 1990s (Ajayi Al,

Somefun OD, 2020).

In Nigeria a report by NAFDAC (2008) found that alcohol is also the most commonly abuse

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.

Some of the most commonly found types of drugs in society are depressants. Such as alcohol are

commonly available for use every day. Drugs are also classified into four

i. Depressants

ii. Stimulants

iii. Opioids

iv. Dallucinogens (Sunstone Recovery, 2020).

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According to perkinson (2002), Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and dulls the

brain making learning a difficult task. When students abuse alcohol their reasoning becomes

impaired and education becomes of less priority in their life.

College students are a unique group and the substance they prefer may differ somewhat from

general population. Alcohol is the most frequently use drug by full and part-time college

students. College students are more likely to consume alcohol than all other substances

combined. More than half of the full-time college population used alcohol in the last month with

39% admitting to binge drinking and 13% admitting to heavy alcohol use. Other drugs

commonly abused by college students include weed, stimulants, Ecstasy, pain killers. (Scot

Thomas, Eric Patterson, Amanda Lautieri 2020).

Research by Nte (2008), found that 37% of the students in South-South States in Nigeria were

abusing tobacco products. Tobacco products are readily available in Nigeria. Research in

Australia revealed that bhang smoking leads to the use of other more serious drugs. In Nigeria it

was found out that 5.3% of the students were smoking bhang (i.e. Igbo).

Marijuana though illegal to use or have possession of marijuana is a commonly abused drug and

many people are unaware of its harmful effects.

Alcohol though legal to use, obtain and possess, alcohol is another commonly abused drugs with

the potentials for serious consequence. Alcohol abuse manifests as drinking becomes

increasingly important and takes priority over everything else of importance including education,

jobs friends and family (American Addiction Centers Editorial Staff, 2021).

Among the highest in the drugs abused by undergraduates in northern Nigerian Universities are:

cigarette, brewed alcohol, locally brewed alcohol, kola nut, aspirins and cannabis (Essien, 2010).

20
In all, 17 research reports were identified as having data on the types of drugs abused by

secondary students in Nigeria. It was found that 18 different drugs were empirically identified as

being abuse by secondary school students in 9 different states of Nigeria. The observed trend is

that alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and cigarettes are the most abused drugs while drugs that were

least abused were Cocaine, Glue, Heroine, Energy Drinks, Miraa, Rohypnol and Tramadol

(Ochuko E. Nabofa, 2021).

Furthermore, Chikere and Mayowa (2011) found that in a number of school and college surveys

in Nigeria, alcohol use is the most common among students with many drinking students having

had their first drink in school setting. The also discovered that majority of students are affected

were initiated into the use of alcohol at a tender age of 16-20 years.

Marijuana and alcohol is perhaps the most often widely used drugs on campuses across the

country, as per the National Institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism, four out of five college

students intake alcohol. This seems not to be a significant concern, but note how eight of the

populaces would be under the legal drinking age, college students are between most at the legal

drinking age group of 18 and 22 despite 21 becoming a minimum voting age within the United

States. (Ben Lesser, 2021).

Types of Drugs Abused in General by Both Students and Other Users Fall into Three

Categories:

a. Depressants

b. Stimulants and

c. Hallucinogens (Makanjoula, Daramola and Obembe, 2007; Aina and Obrunsola, 2008,

Budy, 2009).

21
Depressants are sedatives which act on the nervous system. Artificial relaxation and relief from

anxiety and mental stress tend to produce psychological dependence and withdrawal from heavy

use is severe.

Stimulants on the other hand are agents that activates enhance or increase neural activity. They

include amphetamines and synthetic appetite suppressants such as methylphenidate. They can

give rise to symptoms suggestive of intoxication, including tachycardia, papillary, dilation,

elevated blood pressure, nausea or vomiting and abnormal behavior such as fighting, agitation

and impaired judgment. A full blown delusional psychosis may occur while

Hallucinogens are chemically divers group which produce profound mental changes such as

euphoria, anxiety, sensory distortion, vivid hallucination, delusion, paranoia and depression.

However, the most common type of drug mostly abuse by undergraduate students fall under the

category of hallucinogens which are drug like, marijuana, cocaine, cigarette, brewed alcohol,

local brewed alcohol, kola nut and aspirins.

Depressants are common types of drugs found in the society such as alcohol are commonly

available for adults to use every day. They become addictive, creating negative outcomes when

overused. They slow the response time within the central nervous system. As the neurons in the

brain slow down, you feel more relaxed and less inhibited. Depressants affect motor function,

gross motor and fine motor as well as the brain ability to process information and react.

Stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine, work in the opposite manner. Stimulant types speed up

body’s central nervous system. Response times between the brain’s neurons increase and the

body’s systems respond with higher respiration rates and faster heart rates.

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Hallucinogens also act on the central nervous system and brain to create altered perceptions and

moods. The most commonly recognized and abused hallucinogen is LSD which increase the

brain’s production of serotonin and neurotransmitters. As serotonin level’s increase rapidly, your

mood can fluctuate widely and your ability to perceive stimuli and process it also fluctuates.

(Sunstone Recovery, 2020).

Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Students in Nigeria

Drugs can be harmful in number of ways, through both immediate effects and damage to the

health over time. The harmful consequences of cannabis use result from the dependence

syndrome, tolerance, withdrawal, phenomena and possibly direct effects. Immediate

consequence of cannabis use (observation within a few minutes of taking the drugs) are a feeling

of being high that is mild to moderate euphoria and some relaxation. At a higher dose cannabis

sound and colour perceptions may interfere with attention, concentration, memory and logical

thinking, so that the individual’s ability to perform complex action or to make sound judgment

becomes impair (Njoku, 2008).

There is little doubt that alcohol can have a negative effect on academic success. One national

study indicate that college students with an “A” average consume an average of only 3.3 drinks

per week, while “D” students consume an average of 9 drinks per week some sobering facts

alcohol has been linked to 48% of incidents of lowered academic performance and 25% of

college dropouts. The heaviest drinkers make the lowest grades. Increase in average number of

drinks per week are related to decreased class attendance and getting behind on school work

(Gunjan et al, 2020).

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Halluanogens distort perceptions, alter heart-rate and blood pressure and in the long term cause

nuerological disorders, depressions, anxiety visual hallucinations and flashbacks. Cocaine and

emphetamines first cause tremors, headaches, hypertension and increased heart rate. Long term

effects are nausea, insomnia and loss of weight, convulsions and depression. Heroin use initially

results in nausea, slow respiration, dry skin itching, slow speech and reflexes but, over a long

period, there is the serious risk of developing physical and psychological dependence which in

the end can lead to acute overdose which can lead to death due to respiratory depression

(Adediji, 2003).

Abused substance/drug are always available abuse amphetamines like tramol, tramadol or tradyl.

Which shows that poor academic performance is are of the effects of this substance/drugs on the

students. Other effects include truancy and decreasing their ability to concentrate (Chukm et al,

2017) ascuted by P.U Ejodamen, Nicholas Ogni, 2021).

In one way or another, the use of psychoactive substances alters the normal functioning of the

human body and in the long run can cause serious damage, as a result of drug abuse, several

youths experience mental health problem, either temporarily or for a long period of time. Some

become insane, melidjusted to school.

Situations and eventually drop out of school. Some other effects of drug abuse among university

students in Nigeria can be seen in the area of. (Trauncy and Absenteeism: According to

Osarenren 2002), truancy is when students stay away from school or academic activities

regularly without permission while absentecisim is when there is a high rate of absence from

school or academic activities regularly attendance is required. These problems are indications of

24
adolescent rebellion, self-assertion, perceived poor academic achievement or make adjustment

which are traceable to drug abuse (Falaye, 2003).

Drug abuse among teens and college students has a detrimental effect on academic performance.

Advanced brain scan imaging has proven that the human brain is not fully developed at puberty

as previously thought with maturation occurring late as 24 years of age. While each drug produce

different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common: repeated use can

alter the way the brain looks and functions common effects of drug on the brain that impact

academic learning includes difficulty concentrating, inability to process information and

problems with working memory (Editorial Staff American Addiction Centers, 2021).

Cultism: when university students are unto drugs they further seek membership of secret

societies which are rampant on university campuses in Nigeria.

Researchers have shown that many cult members are into drugs (Atere, 2003, Raufu, 2003;

Okirika, 2000; Oniyama and Oniyama, 2020; Okpetu and Dittimya, 2000).

There are many social implication of substance abuse ranging from loss of employment, break

up of inter-personal relationship, Truancy and drop out from schools suicidal ideation road traffic

accidents and unprotected sex (Abba.M. Abdullahi, 2019).

Armed Robbery and organized crimes: Drug abuse gives students a false sense of security and

confidence. As a result these adolescents take to different types of crime including kidnapping,

rape and armed robbery. Prostitution and high risk sexual behavior when female university

students are dependent on drugs, they may also take prostitution as a means of making easy

money to live about their economic means. Male students who are on drugs are also known to be

25
gigolos or engage in gay relationships with older wealthy men while the female may have

multiple sexual partners with whom they engage in lesbianism and unprotected sex. According to

Samuel et al (1985), such students usually desire the most expensive and fashionable clothing,

perfumes and cars but do not have the means to secure them. Prostitution and other high risk

sexual behavior therefore, provide the avenue for cheap money. Hostility, drug abuser often

experience emotional instability. Consequently, they may become hostile to family friends,

colleagues, lecturers and constituted authority. Personality disorders; at a personality disorder is

a deviant behavior (Makinde, 2004). Thus, personality disorder that are common among drug

abusers are paranoid (secretive, stubborn, rigid); Schizoid (socially withdrawn, poor social

skills); narcissistic (self centered, lacks empathy); hostriaxc (flirts about, attention seeking);

borderline (unable to maintain intimacy, unstable moods); and self-defeating (depressed, lonely,

resists social contact, feels hopeless); examination malpractice: university students who are into

drugs experience different levels of personality disorders as highlighted above. As a result their

involvement in cult and other related activities, truancy and absenteeism, poor study skills and

poor memory, many of them resort to cheating examination (Awa, 1983, Ogunyemi, 2003;

Olatoye and Afuwape, 2003).

As a consequence of the prevalence of drug abuse in the society the school are no longer place

where the imparting of morals is a challenge. What is evident is the students lack of academic

concentration and falling academic standards in schools. For many adolescents, drug abuse has

now become a part of their lives and perhaps may have now contributed to their academic

failure. (Bashar Ibrahim, Fauziya Isiya Bakori, Ibrahim Labbo Abdul Kabir, Abubakar Junaidu

Jabo, 2019).

26
Possible solutions of Drug Abuse among students in Nigeria

Odejide, (2000) opinioned that drug abusers who exhibit symptoms of stress, anxiety,

depression, behavior changes, fatigue and loss or increase in appetite should be treated by

medical experts and counselors to save them from deadly diseases.

Government bodies most endorse laws for prohibiting sales of alcohol to youths and students.

Run constant awareness program on the academic performance for students starting from

fresher’s to those in their final year.

Prohibit the alcohol promotional sales by companies in the higher institutions and strictly

prohibit operating of bars within or around higher institutions. Carry out self-esteem training

periodically, for letting the students understand that alcohol is not a self-esteem booster (Gunjan

et al, 2020).

Preventing young people from taking drugs is important as compulsory drug treatment often fail

to reduce drug use (Kaplan and wood 2010) and can cause violations of human rights (Thailands

war on drugs, 2008).

Intervention measures based on group-focused cognitive Behavioral Health Education Program

(GCBHEP) should be adopted to improve awareness and behavioral change based on the model,

other community based education awareness in the form of mass campaigns through media

houses, both print and electronic, adverts, flyers, banner, radio jungles, lectures and other public

functions should be created and sustained. Parents need to educate their children early enough

on the risks associated with drugs abuse. They should monitor the children closely and know the

kind of friends they are keeping. (Abubakar, et al, 2021).

27
In order to prevent drug abuse, children and adolescence need to be a priority for health

promotion work. Supporting children so they can have enough knowledge, appropriate attitudes

and also facilitates children of develop drug abuse prevention skills.

Strategies for drugs education need to be developed to fit within each social context (McCrystal

and Winning, 2009).

Symposia rallies, seminars and workshops should be organized to sensitize the students of

tertiary institutions on the dangers inherent in the illicit consumption of drug, also there is need

for parents to educate their words on negative effect of drug abuse on their academic

performance in school. Counseling psychologists should adopt appropriate therapy on drug

abusers in order to produce expected positive behavioral changes in them (E.O. Onijigin and

Rabiat I. Sanni, 2020).

Therefore, a model to support undergraduate university students who are prone to drug abusers

in need and necessary to curtail the trend of it abuse.

2.2 Theoretical Framework

Differential Association theory: This Theory was propounded by an influential early American

Sociologist Edwin Sutherland in the late 19th Century. He argued that all behavior is a result of

socialization through interaction. That was how we act depends on how those around us desire us

to act. How much we deviate from or conform to the norms depend on difference (or

differentials) in whom we associate with (Jack 1973). According to this approach, deviance,

crime, drug abuse and other allied crimes as related to the society. Society itself generated that

they were not merely individual acts of anti-social behavior. Having generated deviance society

operated in such ways as to reduce, not eliminate deviance and crime because they also had

28
positive functions to the society (Jack 1973). Against this background, people use drug in the

society even to the level of abuse or addiction because the society has designated certain types of

drug as socially acceptable. They are regarded as legal drugs and others as illegal such socially

accepted drugs include alcohol and cigarettes which the user, use any how in the society on

account of the favorable treatment accorded to them by the society.

Applying the theory to the topic shows that, deviance is what is so labeled or what people say it

us. It does not exist objectively or naturally. Thus, nothing is inherently deviant or wrong except

the meaning so given by societies. Such designations are socially defined by people, who reach

these conclusions via shared and contested views of the world, society, and their own life

experience. By showing that some drugs were are once accepted and legal to consume by people

only later to be criminalized.

Structural Strain Theory

The theory is postulated by Robert Merton (1990-2003). Merton’s Structural Strain Theory

traces the origins of deviance to the tension caused by the gap between cultural goals and the

means people establishes goals for people; social structures provide or fail to provide the means

for people to achieve these goals. According to Robert Merton poor people are most likely to

experience the same goals and values of the rest of societies but have blocked opportunities for

success (Merton, 1978).

Structural strain theory helps explain between unemployment and crime pattern than blaming

poor and unemployed criminals for not having values of the middle class, structural strain theory

29
explain risk involve in such action (Seigel, 1998). Individuals form a sense of norms and

expectations and also provides model for imitation.

Applying this theory to the topic of research shows that, drug abuse as an act is indulge by

people even due do the undergraduate students through the modeling of peer behavior among

people as every learned behavior have its consequence.

References

Ajayi, I.A. and Ayodele, J.B. (2002). Development of drug problems in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Petoa Education Publishers.

Balogun S.K. (2006). “Chronic intake of separate and combined alcohol and nicotine on body

maintenance among albinorats”, Journal of Human Ecology, 19 (1) 21-24

Ekpenyong S.N. (2010). “Marijuana is very Harmful”, Nigerian Gong, app. 9-11.

Ekpenyong S.N. (2012) Drug Abuse in Nigerian Schools: A study of selected secondary

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Makanjuola, A.B, Daramola, O. and Obembe (2007). Psychoactive substance use among medical

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Communications Ltd.

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Merki, B. (1993). Teen Health, Decision for Healthy living. New York: McGraw-Hill. NAFDAC

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 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the method that the research employ in conducting a reliable and valid

study.

The chapter first and foremost explains the description of the study area, research design,

population of the study, sample size, sampling techniques, methods of data collection,

instruments of data collection, methods of data presentation and analysis, ethical considerations

and problems encountered.

3.1 Description of the Study Area

They study took place in Bauchi State University Gadau, Bauchi State Nigeria. This is a non-

conservative university where students live or reside outside the campuses due to absence of

hotels in the faculty of social and management sciences Yuli Campus and therefore Tirwun

Village is also an area of consideration since most of the students resides on that area.

3.2 Research Design

For the purpose of this work, descriptive survey method was used. The survey method is most

suitable for this work because it gives the research more description on how students on campus

use and abuse drugs.

3.3 Population of the study

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The population of this study comprise of all female and male students in the University Yuli

Campus which statistical data will be collected from the faculties and will be used in carrying out

this research

3.4 Sample Size

Base on Yaro Yamane sample size techniques, a data collected questionnaires will be

administered by the researcher for the purpose of this study.

3.5 Sampling Techniques

Simple random sampling will be used in selecting the respondents.

Since the university has about six faculties two will be selected and since these faculties also

have department within them, 6 (six) department within this faculties through simple random

sampling techniques in other to give each department an equal chance of been represented.

Department that will be selected includes, sociology, political science, economic, accounting,

public administration and business administration.

3.6 Methods of data collection

The method of data collection for thus study is questionnaire. The questionnaire will be divided

into two sections. A is the social demographic variables of respondents while section B comprise

of the level of drug abuse among students the reasons that propel students to engage in drug

abuse, the types of drugs commonly abused by undergraduate students, the effects of drug abuse

on the academic performance of students and possible solutions of drug abuse among students.

The questionnaire method is use because it gives the respondents enough time to think of

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answers which will be more suitable for study while survey enables the researcher to obtain first

hand information in the field among the study population with the study area. Which means

quantitative method of research will be used.

3.7 Instruments of data collection

The instrument that will be used for this study is questionnaire and field survey.

3.8 Methods of Data Presentation and Analysis

All data that will be collected will be analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies relating

to the question asked. Reponses will be carefully collected and tabulated. The percentages will

be analyzed base on the tabulated Reponses of the individual respondents. Also descriptive and

inferential statistics will be use in the analysis of data. The descriptive statistics include

frequencies which describe what the data show concerning demographic information of

respondents and their response to question, questions answered in the questionnaire. Inferential

statistics will be used to analyze the hypothesis formulated for the study.

References

Abba .M. Abdullahi (2019). Substance Abuse: A literature Review of the implications and

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Afuwape, S. (2003). Drug Dependence: Health Consequences, Handbook of the African

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Ben Lesser (2021). Frequently Drug Abuse by College Students.

Britannica, the Editors of Encydopaedia (2021) “Drug Abuse” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1 Nov.

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E.O. Onojigin and Rabiat, I.S. (2020) Drug Abuse and risk behavior among students of tertiary

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NAFDAC (2008) DO Drugs control your life? Know the risk

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Njoku, N.P (2008). Understanding Students Social vices for education effectiveness. Owerri:

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