Abstract

This studyinvestigated and found the influence of drug abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students. The purpose of the study was to find out how drug abuse has influenced the academic performance of secondary school students.  The study adopted a descriptive survey design in which three research questions were posed. The population of the study was 1000 while the sample size of 200 was selected randomly out of the total population of Government secondary school in Enugu North local Government Area of Enugu state. Four point scale questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was adequately validated with its reliability established using test retest. Data collected were analyzed using mean score. Base on the data collected and carefully analyzed, the researcher made the following findings that drug abuse has a negative influence on secondary school students and that drug abuse among students causes students to be depressed with their academic activities, decreases students focuses in class, reduces the cognitive ability of the students and increases forgetfulness. The researcher also found out reasons why students engage in drug abuse such as academic problems, To become high and fit into the group, Drug habit of students is attributed with their parents drug habits, Students association with their peer group influences them to engage in drug abuse, Students are involved in drug abuse because they want to gain power. Finally, the researcher found out the most adequate measure for eradicating drug abuse is true the creation of awareness early in schools, Preventive program for high school student and counseling. Base on the findings, the researcher made the following recommendation: the Government should prevent the sales and cultivation of Indian Herbs and other deadly herbs that encourage drug abuse. They should also enforce its existing laws against drug abuse through its regulatory agencies. They should also embark on the Establishment of Counseling Centers for Drug Control and Establishment of Family Education.