Drug Abuse and Educational Development among Youths in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Drug abuse among young people has become an important public-health and educational concern because adolescence represents a critical period for intellectual, social, emotional and behavioural development. Substance use during this period may interfere with school attendance, concentration, academic engagement, educational attainment and the development of skills required for productive adulthood. Recent evidence from Nasarawa State indicates that substance experimentation is present among secondary-school students, with cigarette smoking, marijuana and inhalant use reported among students surveyed across the state. Similarly, research conducted specifically among in-school adolescents in Lafia identified peer pressure as a significant predictor of substance abuse, suggesting that the school and peer environment is important in understanding the problem. This paper examines the relationship between drug abuse and educational development among youths in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Drawing on recent empirical literature from Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria and the wider international literature, the paper examines the effects of drug abuse on academic performance, school attendance, concentration, classroom participation, educational attainment and school completion. The review indicates that problematic substance use can be associated with poorer educational outcomes, although the relationship is influenced by peer relationships, family circumstances, socioeconomic conditions and psychological wellbeing. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis involving 63 studies and 438,329 participants found that adolescent and young-adult cannabis use was associated with lower grades, increased absenteeism and dropout, and lower likelihood of completing secondary and postsecondary education. The paper argues that addressing drug abuse in Lafia requires an integrated educational response involving schools, families, health professionals, community organisations and relevant government agencies.