DRUG ABUSE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NSIT IBOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

DRUG ABUSE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NSIT IBOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE (GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1.1Background to the study

In recent times, so much has been said about drug abuse and addictions. The history of taking drugs for non-medical purposes dates back thousands of years. Man has always been adapt at discovering and utilizing mood altering drugs.

Drug abuse means indiscriminate use of drugs without regards to medical practitioners’ or doctors’ guideline. A drug is also abused when it is taken for any other purpose other than that for which it is intended and in a way that could damage the user’s health or ability to function. Most of the drug is used in such large quantities which in turn produce certain dangers to the individual.

According to Sonnerdrcker (1991) drugs were initially used only for treating or curing illness and controlling diseases. During the prehistoric period, people used various substances to reduce pain suffering and to alter their feeding in order to achieve a state of well being. With the passage of time, due to the inconsistent and continued use of drugs their other characteristics were discovered. Hence, many of the drugs are now being used for other purposes rather than medicine (Tiautman 1966). Many drugs are used as a means of enjoyment or used for preventing daily tiredness. People use some drugs to induce themselves to work beyond their capacity. Today, drugs are being used indiscriminately by people with the intention to enjoy, avoid stress of everyday living, and to slow down or become excessively active. This indiscriminate use of drugs is what Rimm and Somerwill (1977) and Aliyu (1981) called drug abuse.

DRUG ABUSE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NSIT IBOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE (GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)