The effect of drugs abuse on students

By Ishaku Ibrahim

The drug abuse is one  of the most paramount  factor among the many affecting the lives of students. Drug abuse has become a  source of concern in the lives of Nigerian youths. 

Since the early  time, herbs leaves and plants inform of drugs have been  used to heal and control diseases.plants have been utilized for medicine for thousands of years. The specific plants to be used and the method of   application for particular ailments we're passed down through oral history from generation to generation. 

The use of drugs in itself does not constitute any danger, because drugs correctly administered have been a blessing. Chronic use of substance can course serious irreversible damage on one physical and  phycological development. The use of drug could be beneficial or harmful depending on the mode of use. 

👉 Apart from knowing the harmful effects of substance abuse, various studies have point out that among the reasons students abuse drugs are: 

1. For experimental purpose

2. Curiosity 

3. Peer and family influence 

4. Lack of parental supervision.

5. Personality problems. 

6. Socioeconomic issues. 

7. Need of extra energy for work. 

8. To build up confidence. 

9. Frustration. 

10. To achieve Happiness. 

11. To sleep or keep awake. 

12. To relieve stress. 

13. To reduce fear.

14. To feel good and to enhance sexual performance, age, unemployment, poverty and for no reason.  

👉Drug availability need maintain drug habits in order to avoid withdrawal syndrome. The increasing rate of substance abuse and increasing rate of violence has been observed among high school and university students. 

👉 Among the highest in the drugs abused by under graduates in northern Nigerian university are: cigarette, brewed alcohol, locally brewed alcohol, cola nut, a sprin a cannabis. 

👉 Therefore, the motive behind drug abuse may be sociological, out of curiosity, boredom, to alleviate fear, derive sexual and physical pleasures,  or family background. Despite the fact that drug abuse has adverse effects on the youths by changing their brain perception of difficulties and problems, the number of undergraduate that use or abuse stimulants has steadily increased in resent year. 

Also,  some university students who experience dissatisfaction with life due to anger, frustration, acadamic failure and boredom, consume  alcohol to fit in and serve as consolation . This invariably affects their  academic performance hence hours that should be use  for study are diverted to rest and sleep after its consumption. 

👉 Drug abuse has negative impact  on the education  of students all over the world. The overall health of the user is affected negetively and behavior associated with drug abuse predispose the abuser to crime and contagious diseases including HIV/AIDS.  Drug abuse has thus become  a national concern in Nigeria,   given it's impacts  on education and  future  leadership, innovation and human resources. Students are particularly  at risk given that they are in their formative year education career development, and identify formation. 

👉 Meanwhile, the other consequences of chewing cola nut, taking blandcoffee and other substances that enhance one to stay awake at night could lead to addition and substance abuse which may result in negative health implication and adversely affect performance in examination contrary to the expectation of students  who take it to stay awake and read at night. 

Drug abuse has some educational, social, economical, phycological, cultural, physical and moral health consequences that may lead to low acadamic performance, poverty, disability, maladjustment or death of the abuser. Its used aid crime rate, cultism, mental illness, low self esteem and self respect, injuries to ones health, becoming a social outcast, bringing shame to their skills and in some instances complete withdrawal from school.