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Chapter One 1.1 Background To The Study
Chapter One 1.1 Background To The Study
INTRODUCTION
The history of human race has also been the history of drug abuse (Maithya,2009). In
itself, the use of drugs does not constitute an evil; in fact some drugs have been a medical
blessing. (Maithya, 2009) Since, time in memorial earliest times, herbs, roots, bark leaves have
been used to relieve pain and help control diseases. History tells us that the Chinese used Opium
as a cure of dysentery before the 18thcentury. European countries such as Britain and Holland
were known to exchange opium growth in their colonies for tea and silk with China (United
Nations, 1995). Unfortunately, certain drugs that initially produce enticing effects, such as sense
of feeling good, elation, serenity and power have evolved into a problem of dependence and
abuse.
Drug abuse is a global problem that poses a great danger to the lives of individuals,
society and political stability and security in many countries (United Nations, 1998). According
to the United Nations (2005), the use of illicit drugs has increased throughout the world and the
major 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
Drugs abuse has become the focus of research and preventive activities in the developed
countries for decades (Muyabo, 1996). A study carried out by the London School of Economics
in 1980 on students learning behavior revealed a relationship between drug abuse and poor
academic results (Otieno, Balswick & Norland, 1994).Africa has not been spared from the abuse
of drugs by the youth. The continent, over recent years has experienced an upsurge in the
production, distribution and consumption of drugs with the youth and young adults being most
Africa has huge young and vulnerable populations which has become the target market
for the illicit drug industry. This constitutes 56% of the population aged between 14-19 years,
which constitutes secondary school students. In Ethiopia it is reported that 82 per cent of the
street children in Addis Ababa use some kind of a drug (United Nations, 2013). Besides, the
threat of increasing consumption of illicit drugs amongst the young people and children, South
Africa is becoming a major transhipment point in the international drug trade as well as a major
producer of Dagaa (Honwana & Lamb, 1998). Gilberto Gerra (2013), the chief of drug and
preventive health branch at the United Nations office on drugs and crime pointed out that West
Africa is completely weak in terms of boarder control, undermanned ports and the big drug
cartels from Colombia and Latin America have chosen Africa as a way to reach Europe. The
United Nations official (Gerra) added that when a country becomes a transit point it immediately
According to the United Nations (UN) statistics 2013, 37,000 people in Africa die
annually from diseases associated with drug abuse. The UN estimates that there 28 million drug
users in Africa (United Nations, 2013). An International conference on drug abuse in Nigeria
2013 reported that young people in consumption countries were the most vulnerable section of
the population, especially those in the period of early and late adolescence who are mostly
unable to resist peer pressure and start experimenting with drugs in schools or even outside
school. The international conference on drug abuse in Nigeria (2013) advocated for an
youth, especially, are vulnerable to the vice owing to peer pressure, media influence, poor
guidance and role modelling (Kikuvi, 2009). This has taken root in schools leading to the high
According to Amayo and Wangai (1994), drug consumption has led to unrest and
widespread destruction of life and property in schools. Nigeria was ranked among the top four
African Nations notorious for consumption of narcotics by the United Nations International Drug
organizations, non-state actors and many other keen stakeholders to curb the problem of drug
and substance abuse especially among the youth, the number of school going youth being suck
into drug abuse seems to be escalating day by day. The government for instance has placed
education at the centre of the social pillar of vision 2030 that intents to make Nigeria a middle
level income country. To show its commitment it has highly subsidized secondary school
education thus boosting access and retention rates in the system, all these intervention strategies
have had huge cost implications on the taxpayer including the opportunity cost.
Drug abuse threatens and tends to derail these noble strides by demotivating the students
in learning and subsequently ruining these school going children that the government intends to
rely on in driving the economy to the next level. Drugs abuse menace should therefore be given
the attention it deserves if the intentions of this hefty investment in education are to bear fruits.
Ijebu Ode like any other region in the country experiences internal inefficiencies in the
school system such as declining academic performance; apathy in learning activities and
subsequent drop out in schools as demonstrated in the background to the study. The fact that
there is no known study in the region that has ever sought to address the problem of drug abuse
in secondary schools forms a justification of the current study that seeks to establish the effects
of drug abuse on participation in learning among secondary school students In Ijebu Ode Local
The objective of this study is to investigate Drug Abuse Practises among secondary school
students In Ijebu Ode Local Government Of Ogun state, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the
study are:
1. Identify the commonly abused drugs in secondary schools among secondary school
2. establish the causes of abused drugs among secondary school students in Ijebu Ode
Local Government
3. Establish the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students in Ijebu Ode
Local Government
4. Establish the effects of drug abuse on students learning outcome Ijebu Ode Local
Government
1.4 Research Questions
From the above listed objectives the following questions were constructed to address the
research problem:
1. What are the commonly abused drugs in secondary schools among secondary school
2. What are the causes of drugs abuse among secondary school students in Ijebu Ode
Local Government?
3. How prevalent is drug abuse among secondary school students in Ijebu Ode Local
Government
4. What are the effects of drug abuse on students learning outcome in Ijebu Ode Local
Government
The findings are expected to yield significant empirical data and information on the effect
of drug and substance abuse on participation in learning and school participation of learners.
The findings are expected to help the ministry of education officials in understanding the
causes of drug abuse amongst secondary school students hence help them develop intervention
strategies.
The study is likely to add to the body of knowledge in the area of drug and substance
It was not possible to carry out the study in all the schools in Ijebu Ode Local
Government due to financial constraints, time factor and other logistics. Again, the study
targeted secondary school students and principals and therefore other stakeholders like parents
Drug abuse- Drug abuse is the non- medical use of drugs that destroys health and productive life
of an individual.
Drug dependency- A physical and or a psychological need for a mood- altering substance.
Drug- Is any substance that, when absorbed in to the body of a living organism, alters normal
bodily function.
Hypnos datives- These are drugs that depress brain function. They have quietening and
Narcotics-These are drugs from the opiate family such as, Bhang, Cocaine and Heroin.
Opiates-A type o-f narcotic drug that acts as depressants in the central nervous system. They
Stimulants-These are drugs which cause alertness and create energy for example
Amphetamines.
Withdrawal- What someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol experiences when they