INFLUENCE OF DRUG ABUSE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTION.

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the influence of drug abuse on the academic performance of students in tertiary institution a case study of FCE Abeokuta Ogun State. The survey research deign was used for this study to elicit fact. The total number of one hundred (100) questionnaire were administered to the respondents. The data collected was analysed using simple percentage. Five (5) research questions were raised and answered. The findings of the study revealed that financial incapability f student, peergroup and lifestyle of parent influence students to be addicted to drug abuse. It was also recommended that educational programme, should be organized for student to enlighten them on the dangers in drug abuse.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Drug abuse is the use of drugs for other purposes other than medical reasons, thus affecting the individual In a negative way socially, cognitively or physically Kuria (1996). Social effect may be reflected in an individual’s enhanced tendency to engage in conflicts with friends, teachers and school activities. Cognitive effects relate to the individual’s lack of concentration on academic works and memory loss, while Kwinsohn (2007) defines a drug as any product other than food or water that affect the way people feel, think, see and behave. It is a substance due to its chemical nature affects physical, mental and emotional functioning. It can enter the body through chewing, eating, smoking, drinking, rubbing on the skin or injection.
According to the world health organization (W.H.O) (1998) drug addiction is persistent, excessive drug use, inconsistent with or on related to acceptable medicines practices.
Drug abuse amongst the global youth population has become a serious problem affecting everyone. Addiction leads many people, young people prominent amongst them, into downward spiral of hopelessness that in some cases ends fatal. They range from give sniffing street children and teenage ecstasy users to hard core heroin and cocaine addicts (Nacada, 2005). Drug abuse is responsible for lost wages destruction of property in schools, scoring health care costs and broken families. It is a problem which affects us all as parents, children, teachers, government officials, taxpayers and workers.

The National government in Nigeria embarked on an aggressive campaign to fight drug and substances abuse. This leads to creation of (NDLEA) to enforce, control and correct abuse stakeholders established, advisory communities on the vice. The campaign, which targeted parents and students, was spearheaded by chiefs and their assistants at the grassroots level according to Kapsoya location chief Muss Kipchumba, drug abuse was becoming a disaster both in rural and urban settings, as barons target school children
Drug abuse had hit hard on the youthful population; the older people were also resorting to substance abuse through excessive intake of alcohol, creating awareness to the public on the danger of drug abuse has become one of the key priorities in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nigeria has experienced rapid growth of population in recent years; the increasing demand for education has led to more universities being formed.. Due to the rapid development, drug use has become common among student in campus and is even affecting their performances in class. Despite the worldwide concern and awareness about the dangers of drug abuse most of the student have limited knowledge of how dangerous the habit is (Ngesu, 2008). Many students have dropped out of school and others opted to engage in criminal activities thus endangering the lives of the people living in the communities. The young generation no longer has role model since most of the young adults are unemployed and under the influence of drugs.