CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The word “Drug” is from the French word “Drogue” and is formally identified as any ingredient

used in chemistry of pharmacy. Drugs are as useful to man as food, clothing and shelter. Turner

(1971) said, “Drug is a chemical that influences or modifies the action of the body’s own

chemistry. It is also defined as any substance or chemical agent that affects the structure or

functioning of a living organism”.

To a pharmacologist: a drug is any substance that changes body form or function. In a narrower

medical sense, a drug is a substance used to diagnose, treat or prevent illness. And from a

philosophical perspective, drugs in modern society seek to enhance your freedom of choice in

terms of drug use or non use.

Poison and Pharmacy Act of Nigeria (1979 chapter 152) defined drug as “as substance or

vegetable, animal or mineral origin or any preparation or mixture thereof which is used for

internal or external application to human in the treatment of disease”.

World Health Organization (W.H.O) says, “Drug is any substance that when taken into the living

organism (body) may modify one or more of its functions”. Drug, therefore, can be regarded as

any chemical substance other than food which has a significant and strong effect upon the body

system.

The Australian Drug Foundation has defined drugs as any substance which changes the way the

body or mind functions. Drug-taking can be legal or illegal. The caffeine in coffee and tea is a

licit drug and is unregulated. Alcohol is licit, as is tobacco, but both are more heavily regulated.
Prescription drugs like benzodiazepine (sleeping pills) and steroids are licit when prescribed but

illicit if used by someone without a prescription.

Cannabis, heroin, ecstasy, hallucinogens and others are illicit drugs (ICPC, 2012).

The word abuse means wrong or bad use. Pairing these words, Drug Abuse could be seen as

making bad use of drugs, wrong usage of drugs; violation of laid down pharmacological use of

drugs; or using a drugs in a manner that deviates from the approved medical or social pattern.

It must be noted that any substance capable of altering man’s mood has the tendency of being

abuse. Most drugs are medicinal, hence prevent, heal, and relieve pain and so on. As a result

people in an attempt to achieve the above, use drugs and as the use become excessive, we start

having problems and cases of misuse which finally lead to abuse.

“Drug abuse” does not mean taking overdose of drugs alone, but it includes buying and using

drugs for treating self without the doctor’s prescription. “Drugs”, it also involve using legal and

illegal “Recreational drugs”, it also includes the use of legal medicines by the healthy or social

convenience or personal pleasure and the use of typically non-drug substances such as gasoline,

to produce drug-like effects. As drug abuse has become the focus of public concern and

government’s action, it has been identified almost exclusively with the psychoactive or

psychotropic drugs that primarily affect the human mind.

Law enforcement official say “drug abuse is the use of illicit drug” (Punch, 2012). And the

medical authorities see drug abuse as the failure of the people or patient to comply with

directions for using prescribed medicines, engaging in dangerous self medication, or the

recreational use of psychoactive drugs.

For some, drug abuse means ill effect or acceptable behavior accompanying certain drug use, as

reported by the popular press. The concept of drug abuse is partly myth and partly hysteria,

obscuring any real understanding of a serious social or medical problem.

Drug abuse may be defined as the “arbitrary” over dependence or miss-use of one particular drug

with or without a prior medical diagnosis from qualified health practitioners. (Lakhanpal, &

Agnihotri, 2007). (Oluremi, 2012),

Drug Abuse is the harmful use of mind altering drugs. It added that the term usually refers to

problem with illegal drugs, which also include harmful use of legal prescription drugs, Such as in

self medication.

Drug abuse is the recurrent use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter

drugs with negative consequences. These consequences may involve problems at work, school,

home or in interpersonal relationships. It involves also problems with the law and physical risks

that come with using drugs in dangerous situations (UMMC, 2016).

Addiction is defined as a chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug

seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs

change the brain, i.e. they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be

long lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs (NIDA,

2014).
Kenneth et al (1978) said “Drug abuse is the use of mood modifying substances in dosages,

many time in excess damage of both individual and the society at large”. And the social

scientists say that drug abuse is the use of any drug that is harmful to the individual or to society.

The term “Drug abuse” is an epithet as well as social concept. Many people see drug abuse as the

use of some drugs (illegal or illicit) that are more favoured by a minority and disfavoured by the

majority.

This misuse can lead to addiction, overdose, and a range of other harmful consequence. “Drug

abuse” is defined as any use of drugs for non-medical purposes almost always for altering

consciousness. Drug abuse denotes substances that change the mental or physical state of a

person and that may be used repeatedly for that effect leading to abnormality.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs. Drugs can indeed be effective

substances for promoting health and well-being. However, it's essential to ensure that they are

used responsibly and by medical guidelines to prevent the harm that can result from their misuse

and abuse. The misuse and abuse of drugs, especially among young people, have become

significant concerns in many societies. Instead of being used for their intended therapeutic

purposes, drugs are often illegally obtained and consumed in ways that pose serious risks to both

physical and mental health. This misuse can lead to addiction, overdose, and a range of other

harmful consequence.

Drug abuse can lead to abnormalities in both mental and physical functioning. This can manifest

as changes in behavior, mood disturbances, cognitive impairment, and physical health problems.

Over time, drug abuse can have profound and detrimental effects on various aspects of an

individual's life, including their relationships, academic or occupational performance, and overall
quality of life. The use and misuse of drugs, particularly among young people, represent

significant and growing concerns worldwide. Drug abuse among young people is rising in many

Western countries, making it increasingly difficult to ignore the fact. [2,3].

According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Report (2005), some 200

million people, or 5 percent of the world’s population aged 15 - 64 have used drugs at least once

in the last 12 months – 15 million more than the previous year’s estimate. Likewise, according to

the World Drug Report (2005), the use of illicit drugs in all nations has increased in recent years.

The report goes on to note that the increasing availability of a variety of drugs to an ever

widening socio-economic spectrum of consumers is disconcerting, although the main problem at

the global level continues to be opiates (notably heroine) followed by cocaine. For most of

Europe and Asia, opiates accounted for 62 percent of all drug treatment sought in 2003. While

3.3 to 4.1 per cent of the global population admits to consuming drugs, the most worrisome trend

for the UNDCP Executive Director is the younger and younger ages at which people are

becoming addicted.

Nigeria is one of the leading countries with big numbers of users of cannabis and other drugs;

with about 5 to 10% using alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. In 2008, 2000 users of cannabis in

Sokoto were prosecuted and imprisoned.

As a consequence of the prevalence of drug abuse in society the schools are longer places where

the imparting of morals is a challenge. The students abuse drugs like tobacco, alcohol, tramadol,

cough syrup, and other caffeinated substances such as Nescafe to reduce pain, anxiety and

tension. Some of the reasons for their use are; parental background, peer group influence,
isolation and loneliness. Other reasons are elevation of mood, wakefulness, increased confidence

and feeling of euphoria (Linhadt ;2001).

Asuni, (1988), said that in 1986, the Federal Government of Nigeria spent N26million in her

three Neuropsychiatric clinics at Lagos, Abeokuta and Benin City to cater for drug victims who

represent 95% of all mental in-mates, mostly young people.

“So far, the Nigerian drug debate has been confined somewhat to its political and moral planes,

the argument, so far, has reached a ‘T’ junction of morality, but my opinion, the junction is more

than just a ‘T’ ”, (Ekpu, 1988).

Drug abuse has grown into an angry national problem has gone more than fermenting. From

records available so far, the interministerial Committee for the Centre of Narcotics and Drug

Abuse indicated that during the first quarter of 1987, security agents seized 44 packages

containing 13.4kilogrammes of hard drugs and arrested 51 persons in connection with attempts

to export drugs. In May, 1988, World Health Organization (W.H.O) representative in Nigeria

revealed that there were over 2,000 Nigerians, especially youths in various prisons in

America and Europe as a result of their involvement in drug trafficking.

Education against drug abuse has been completely feeble, more so, it is just confusing. A

television “doctor” tells a teacher which drug to take so as to relax after a hard day. But at

school, the teacher lectures about the dangers of drugs. It is no different with parents. And there

is the matter of adolescent rebellion.

It is prudent to get expert advice before taking any drug so that you do not end up ruining your

health or destroying your personality. Ironically, the greatest number of people see no sense in

the doctor’s prescription and abuse drugs at will and expose themselves to health hazards.

To reduce the ambiguity in the meaning of drug and drug abuse, it is classified according to the

purposes for which they are used and their likely effect if over used or abused. We have drugs

for medical, socio-cultural and non-medical purposes. Those drugs under medical use are those

that are used for medicinal purposes and prescribed by doctors. They serve the purpose of pain-

killing, antibiotics and curative drugs. The socio-cultural drugs are used for traditional

engagement, social festivities, religious purposes, such as tea, coffee, cateine, kolanut, cigarette,

alcohol and local gin-Ogogoro. The non-medical drugs are those not meant for either medicinal

or socio-cultural purposes but can be seen and unaccepted as drugs. These includes; marijuana,

cocaine, heroine, opium delirants and others.

Awani (1990), established that drug abuse has risen sharply among our secondary school

students in recent years and it is due to the act of imitation. The Medical Record Department, in

some states and the Neuro-psychiatric Hospitals, there are high occurrence of drug abuse in the

past few years, in the community, particularly among secondary school students. There was a

total of 139 cases of Narcotic drug abusers records, over 76 of whom were secondary school

students.

Another study done at college of Medicine, University of Lagos between the ages of eleven and

eighteen indicated an extensive use of hard drugs such as cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana

etc as well as non-hard drugs such as panadol, daga, anti-biotics by these students. This

particular study was carried out by (Ajayi, 1976).

Whenever one reflects on the gravity of the problem of drug abuse, one momentarily doubts the

wisdom of a disagreement with those people complaining against it and the seriousness of the

Nigerian government. And this problem lingers.

Today drug abuse or drug addiction is one of the most vexing and pervasive problems that

almost all countries including Nigeria; are grappling with in as far as administration and

management of schools is concerned. The consequences on the youth are disastrous and

devastating especially the negative effects in schools and the communities. This is has been

aggravated by the rapid social and technology changes which have had a corrupting influence on

the youth in schools. The monster is a real threat to the youth; parents; schools and the

economies of the world countries that could rely on the valuable youth potential that is being

robbed by drugs (Nodding, 2010). It has also translated to an impediment in as far as the

management of schools is concerned. Drug abuse is a global health and social problem. It is one

of the major problems affecting the youth both in school and out of school. It seems to have

impacted negatively on the academic, social, psychological, economical and physiological

development among the abusers (West and Graham; 2005). Therefore it has become a matter of

grave concern to educational stakeholders, medical practitioners, sociologists, religious leaders,

counselors and parents thus needing urgent attention (Adewuya ; 2005)

Majority of the Nigerian adolescents ignorantly depend on one form of drug or the other for their

various daily activities–social, educational, political, moral etc. Such drugs include: Tobacco,

Indian hemp, cocaine, morphine, Heroine, Alcohol, ephedrine, Madras, Caffeine, Glue,

Barbiturates, and Amphetamines. (Oshikoya and Alli, 2006;Oshodi, Aina, Onajole, 2010) in
their studies on perception of Drug Abuse amongst Nigerian undergraduates identified

dependence and addiction as one of the major consequence of drug abuse, characterized by

compulsive drug craving seeking behaviours are use 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

adolescents should be a matter of concern to all Nigerians especially the society, government,

school heads, religious leaders, groups and other NGOs.

Experiment with drugs during adolescence (11–25 years) is common. At this age, they try so

many new things.

They use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity and desire to find out the effectiveness of a

particular drug, to feels good, to reduce stress, or to feel grown up. Using alcohol and tobacco at

a young age increase the risk of using other drugs later. In one of the WHO’s and the World

Heart Foundation’s data, posit that in Nigeria, 22.1 percent of school youth age between 12 to 17

years use tobacco. The Government of Nigeria seems to lose sight of its responsibilities, though

it claims that tobacco should be regulated in a market oriented frame work, which strikes an

optimal balance and the need to ensure healthy work force. The fear is that adolescents are lured

into early death from Cardio Vascular diseases (CVD), lung cancer and other tobacco related

diseases. (Abudu, 2008; Giade, 2011). Already, Nigerian adolescents are being offered cigarettes

through promotions and musical concerts. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to

use occasionally without significant problems.

While others will develop addiction, moving on to more dangerous and hard drugs and causing

considerable harm to themselves and the society at large. Despite the effort of many concerned
individuals and organization’s to curb this menace, many individuals still present these drugs as

though they are harmless. They give them slogans such as “for greatness” “for brighter life”

Reports from all over the world about this menace of drug abuse are severe. The British officer

for National Statistics reports that 12 percent of pupils aged (11–15) had used drugs.

Amphetamines are used among student

(Oshodi, Aina, & Onajole, 2010) Barbiturates are used by adolescents with suicidal tendencies

rather than for addictive purpose. Madras abuse once reached epidemic proportions among

students (Abudu, 2008). However, cannabis (marijuana) appears to be the most commonly

abused drug by the adolescents. UNODC, 2011).

Drugs are everywhere in our cities in Nigeria, motor parks, Street corners, joints on campuses,

uncompleted buildings, under flyovers. From a survey of Ring Road outlets in Benin City,

Ajegule in Lagos, Mabushi in Abuja, under flyover in Onitsha will astonish you of the number of

youths involved in the intake of cannabis and other drugs (Abudu 2008; Oshodi, Aina &

Onajole, 2010).

Today illegal drugs are sold openly in street corners in almost all the big cities like Lagos,

Ibadan, Kanu and other urban centres in Nigeria. No longer is drug abuse confined to the

underworld and pop stars, addicts now cut across the spectrum of the Nigerian society from

secondary school students to those in tertiary institutions, highly skilled professionals and people

holding key government posts.

1.1 BACK GROUND TO THE STUDY:

Drug abuse is a global problem that poses a great danger to the lives of individuals, society,

political and security in many countries (United Nations, 2008). The use of illicit drugs has

increased throughout the world and the world trend is the increasing availability of many kinds

of drugs among ever widening spectrum of consumers. Of major concern is that children seem to

be targeted as the new market for the drug industry globally (United Nations, 2008). In Kenya,

while conducting a study on the effects of drug and substance abuse on academic performance

among secondary school students, Kathonzweni district, Makueni County, Muoti et al., (2014)

reported that young people’s lives were ruined by alcohol and drugs are rampant. Information

gathered from teachers in some selected schools especially high cost schools indicate that

children carry spirits sometimes mixed with fruit juices, sweets, glucose, ice, tea and other drugs

to school. This is taken during their free time or in between lessons, hence a drunken student

body (MOEST, 2015). This has taken root in schools leading to the high school dropout and

idleness.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Drug abuse is a common phenomenon among secondary school students in Nigeria. It has also

been noted that parents, peer groups, and society at large contribute to the alarming rate of drug.

The secondary schools rampantly experience acts of vandalism, weapon carrying, alcohol abuse,

rape, examination malpractices, school violence, strikes, bullying, cultism, truancy, and school

drop-outs and other anti-social behavior. There is on redeemable juvenile delinquency and

disobedience to teacher and school administrator. These have posed a threat in the administration
and management of schools .Therefore this study intends to gain insight into the effect of drug

abuse on the academic performance of students in some selected secondary schools in Lokoja

Local Government Area, Kogi State.

1.3.1 Target population:

Secondary school students (ages 11-18) in selected schools

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

This study intends:

 To examine the influence of drug abuse use on students‟ academic performance of

students in selected secondary schools in Lokoja local government.

 To examine the types of drugs commonly abused by Secondary school students

 To identify the factors contributing to drug abuse among secondary school students

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 What is the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students?

 What types of drugs are most commonly abused by secondary school students?

 Does drug abuse significantly affect academic performance among secondary school

students?

 What factors contribute to drug abuse among secondary school students?

 How do demographic variables (e.g., Age, Sex, Socio-economic status) influence the

relationship between drug abuse and academic performance?

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 Informing school administrators and policymakers about the extent of drug abuse and its

impact on academic performance

 Providing insights for developing effective interventions and prevention programs

 Raising awareness among parents, teachers, and students about the risks associated with

drug abuse.

 Contributing to the existing body of knowledge on the topic, facilitating further research

and policy development

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Drug: Any product other than food or water that affects the way people feel, think, see, and

behave. It is a substance that, due to its chemical nature, affects physical, mental and emotional

functioning. It can enter the body through chewing, inhaling, smoking, drinking, rubbing on the

skin, or injection.

Drug abuse: Use of drugs for non-medical purposes. Drug abuse refers to the misuse of any

psychotropic substances resulting in changes in bodily functions, thus affecting the individual

socially, cognitively or physically.

Social effects may be reflected in an individual’s enhanced tendency to engage in conflicts with

friends, teachers, and other school authorities. Cognitive effects can be seen in the individual’s

lack of concentration on academic work and memory loss (Eysenck, 2002).

Drug addiction: Addiction to drugs or alcohol means that a person’s body can no longer

function without these substances. An addicted person may show a decline in academic

performance, frequently fail to attend classes, lose interest in school work and display weakened

motor coordination, poor health, and a lack of interest in old friendships. Addiction by its nature

distorts thinking processes giving prominence to thoughts, which justify the addictive

behaviour and minimize or exclude thoughts about ceasing the behaviour (Miller, 2002;

Diclemente, 2006).

Drug related problems: This term is used to describe all the negative effects associated with

drug abuse including ill health, violence, conflicts with friends or school authorities, destruction

of school property and academic underperformance.

Illegal/legal drugs: In this study illegal drugs refer to the substances deemed harmful to the

mental and physical wellbeing of the individual by the government who seeks to control or

discourage consumption by law.

Legal drugs refer to those such as alcohol and tobacco that are potentially dangerous but whose

consumption the government allows.

Psychoactive Substance: Refers to any substance that when taken can modify perception, mood,

cognition, behaviour, or motor functions (UNICEF & WHO, 2006).

Strategies: This term refers to the methods or approaches that schools have put in place to

address drug related problems.

Substance abuse: Refers to the use of all chemicals, drugs and industrial solvents that can

produce dependence (psychological and physical) (Cheryl & Gert, 2003). It can also refer to

repeated non-medical use of potentially additive chemical and organic substances. According to

UNICEF and WHO (2006), substance abuse includes the use of chemicals in excess of normally

prescribed treatment dosage and frequency, even with knowledge that they may cause serious

problems and eventually lead to addition.

Youth: Refers to young people between 13 and 25 years of age or their activities and their

characteristics. The majority of students in Nigerian secondary schools are between 13 and 19

years, a stage referred to as adolescence.

The term youth therefore includes this age bracket of students.

Epithet: is a word or phase used to characterize a person,place or thing, often emphasizing a

distinctive quality or attribute.

Barbiturates: Are a class of sedative –hypnotic drugs derived from barbituric acid. They were

widely used in the past for various medical purposes but have largely been replaced by safer

alternatives due to their risk. E.g. Phenobarbital, Pentobarbital

Steroids: Are a class of synthetic or natural chemical compounds with diverse medical, athletic

and biological uses. E.g. Stanozolol

Opiates: Are a class of drugs derived from opim poppy plants, used for pain relief, cough

suppression and diarrhea treatment. E.g. Morphine, Codeines, Tramadol.