Advances in Research

Abstract

As elsewhere in the world, youth in Nigeria engage in behaviours that are potentially dangerous. The extent of drug abuse among the young is a source of considerable concern. This article presents the results of a study, which sought to determine whether drug abuse among young Nigerian women and men affected their academic performance. Three hundred and seventy students (male=227 and female= 143, mean age; 16.34±.23) participated in the survey. Of this number, 141 students were identified as current drug abusers. Results from current users showed a 38.1% prevalence rate of drug abuse. Reported drug abuse was found to influence students' academic performance negatively, χ² (3) = 41.21, p < 0.001. Gender was found to be a significant predictor of reported drug abuse, χ² (3) = 33.76, p < 0.001 with males reporting a greater degree of drug abuse. The study concludes that drug abuse predicts poor academic performance and calls for increased efforts to control this epidemic in young Nigerian men and women.