DRUG ABUSE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA

Abstract

The study dealt in investigating the effect of drug abuse on the student’s performance of the University of Buea. Theoretical and empirical literature was reviewed with references to writers in drug abuse like Lary cynl Jenseh (2004)

Generally, these scholars and researchers have written extensively on drug abuse. They agree that several effects contribute to poor performance among students. The researcher used questionnaires and interviews to collect relevant information of the study.

The study findings revealed that there is need to include drug abuse and guidance and counseling in school curriculum in order to improve student’s performance. There is also a need as shown in recommendation for government through ministry of education to intervene and put measures to curb those students who uses drugs thus improving general performance of learners.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

This chapter includes the following background of the study statement of the problem, purpose, objective, scope and significance of the study.

1.1 Background Of The Study

The background of this study is divided as follows;

1.1.1Historical perspective

Drug abuse is one of the major problems that have led to poor performance in Cameroon. The history of drug abuse date back to pre-¬independence days when the country was still under the colony of British who introduce drugs as one of the importance chemicals that help human to deal with some of the problems they encounter in daily activities. Due to lack of awareness and poor education system, human being abused those drugs leading to unwanted sexual abuse, property damages, violence and crime school dropout and addition. The south west Region is one of those Regions in Cameroon that is affected by this problem. The major reason why drug abuse has become a major problem is because of interaction of people and mixed tribes

1.2 Theoretical perspective

This research is based on Lary Cyril Jensen’s Social learning theory one of the interesting explanations for adolescence drug use offered by this theory has to do with example that is set for adolescence by other. The idea is that adolescence modals the behaviors after that of parents, peers and others in the community’s. Parents who use alcohol or drugs as means of coping with life problem set an example for the adolescence. If both parents use psychoactive drug then adolescence children are likely to follow.

1.1.2 Conceptual perspective

In this study the dependent variable is the academic performance. The researcher has used the scores of students to measure their academic performance. According to World Book encyclopedia dictionary, academic performance is the executing or accomplishing of studies as set by the rules of education. The American Heritage Dictionary, academic performance is the characteristic of Plato’s school that can be used to evaluate how good or bad a scholar is. The researcher defines academic performance as the how high or low a specific student has been for a specified duration. The students in universities  perform poorly

because the environment where they live is full of drug addicts whom they tend, to imitate.

The independent variable in this case is the drug abuse in which is the one that does not change and causes the other component to vary accordingly. In this case, it is the effect of drug abuse. According to Lary Cyril Jensen’s, the researchers concluded that Parents and religion that want to reduce drug usage should realize that education program advice, counsel and so on would likely fail if a youth continue membership in a peer culture that encourage drug use. Started more positively the first step to manage drug use should focus on the membership and normative orientation of the peer culture. Passive norms generate the highest users cans abuse of drugs and prescriptive norms produce the lowest use and abuse of drug. Peer group norms have the most important influence

1.1.3 Contextual perspective

The research study was carried out in in the university of buea and is situation is that the learning earns everyone’s sympathy as far as drug abuse and addiction is concerns which currently affect student performance. The major effects include sexual abuse, school drop out, property damage, pregnancy, and stealing. These respects lead to poor performance either direct or indirect.

Many people in this area are not educated and therefore they don’t know the major effects of drugs which are commonly abused, i.e. some of them are ignorant. All these has been contributed by Government by not laying down polices to control the situation which is growing at high

rate, in order to reduce the number of drug addicts who influence the growing generation,

To reduce such effect therefore government should lay down strong rules and regulation to restrict users and sellers, for example by putting them in jail for a long period of time. This will reduce drug abusers and addict because they will get afraid of rotting in jail. Also government should include drug abuse in the school syllabus to create awareness among people of all ages and eradicate it in the county.

1.2 Statement Of Problem

Drug abuse being the major cause of poor performance and increased in Kapseret division due to ignorance and poor education system leading to unwanted pregnancy, property damage, violence and crime addiction. The most affected schools are those found near urban centers like Chebisas, Harambee because of frequent interaction of students and drug addicts. Also as a result of good communication to across drugs like miraa, alcohol in the nearby centers.

1.3 Purpose Of The Study

The study aimed at investigating effects of drug abuse on students’ in the university of buea. It also aimed at suggesting remedies/ solution to the problems that face in order to ensure performance is improved.

1.4 Research question.

1. What are the consequences of drug abuse on the selected university?
2. Reason why students engage in illegal drugs?
3. What are the measures taken to curb drug abuse among students of the selected university?
4. What are the main sources of drugs?

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