CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS EFFECTS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the causes of drug abuse and its effects among secondary school students in Benin City, Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised and answered. The sample size for the study was made up of 100 respondents. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The instrument for data collection is a self-designed questionnaire titled “Causes of Drug Abuse and Its Effects among Secondary School Students Questionnaire (CDAESSSQ)”. Data collected from the respondents was analyzed using descriptive statistics, precisely mean and standard deviation. The findings from the study include that some of the causes of drug abuse among students in secondary schools in Benin City include peer group influence, family background, mass media, stress and academic and low self-esteem. It was concluded there is a significant impact of drug abuse on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Benin City. The study recommended among others that the Ministry of Education (Federal and State) in-collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) must intensify their antidrug campaigns in order to have a drug- free society with a special focus on students.