CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

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

for the drug industry globally.

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

affected (Asuni & Pela, 1986).

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

becomes a consumption country.

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

immediate strong inventions to reverse the trend.

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

school drop outs and idleness.

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

Control Programme (World report, 2005).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite the overwhelming intervention strategies by the Government, religious

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

Government Of Ogun state.

1.3 Research Objectives

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

students In Ijebu Ode Local Government

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

students In Ijebu Ode Local Government?

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

1.5 Significance of the Study

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

abuse in Nigeria secondary schools that may be utilized by other researchers.

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

and community leaders were not involved in the study.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

Addiction- Having a physical and /or psychological dependence on a substance.

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

tranquilizing and hypnotic (sleep) effects e.g. benzodiazepines.

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

come from opium. They include hydrocodone, heroin and oxycodone.

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

abruptly discontinue the use of drugs or alcohol