Dropout rates refer to the total number of students who quit school in a year. Dropout rates have been connected to drug and substance abuse. The inception of the 20th century brought many problems in the American society. Since that time, many students especially those from colleges have been dropping out of school due to the effect of drug and substance abuse. The issue of drug and substance abuse has been high among the college students. Young people start experimenting drugs such as alcohol during their middle school years. Thus, by the time the students are in college, the rate at which they abuse drugs is significantly high and this affects their school life to an extent of many of them dropping out of school. The purpose of this paper is to inform the audience on the issue of college dropout rate due to drugs and alcohol (Martinez, Sher, & Wood, 2008).
Why the Issue is Important to the College Students
Indisputably, one of the reasons why college students drop out of school is due to drug and alcohol abuse (Margaret, John, Marj, 2014). Therefore, the problem is important among the college students because the number of college students dropping out of school due to drug and substance abuse is increasing at an alarming rate year by year. Looking at the current trend of the students dropping out of school due to drug abuse, the number is quite high. According to research that was carried by Martinez, Sher, & Wood in 2008, one out of four male college students abuse drugs. For the females, one out of five students abuses drugs. According to Martinez, Sher, & Wood (2008), 7,000 youths drop out of college every other day in the United States. Thus, more than one million college students drop out of school in a year. With these trends, the students should be aware of how costly drug use is, its connection to their performance at school and alcohol and drug abuse contribution to school dropout rate.
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Approximately, 28% of college students who dropped out of school connect their dropout to drugs and alcohol abuse (Margaret, John, Marj, 2014). Therefore, college students should understand how the issue of drug use affects their academic life. Students abusing drugs and alcohol have low academic achievement as opposed to those who do not. The rise in drug and alcohol use among these students eventually leads to poor quality life of the victims; with far reaching social-economic effects on individual and the communities as a whole (Margaret, John, Marj, 2014).
The issue of dropout rates due to substance and alcohol abuse should not be ignored because of the consequences it brings among the students. Students dropping out of school find it hard to get jobs. According to Martinez, Sher, & Wood, (2008), 35% males aged 25-54 years who dropped out of school have no jobs. Dropout rates associated with drug and alcohol use will be reduced when students are aware of how using drugs dropping out school due to the use of drugs affects their lives.
In summary, schools should adopt various strategies to curb the issue of drug and alcohol abuse among the students. Since drug and alcohol abuse is a major factor that contributes to the increasing number of students dropping out of school, colleges should hold awareness campaigns where students are exposed to educational materials designed to teach students against drug use. Besides, the issue of substance abuse should be included in the college curriculum where all college learners, regardless of the course they are pursuing, should be educated on the effect of
References
Martinez, J. A., Sher, K. J., & Wood, P. K. (2008). Is heavy drinking really associated with attrition from college? The alcohol-attrition paradox . National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine . Vol. 22 (3), 450-6. doi: 10.1037/0893-164X.22.3.450
Margaret, S., John, F., Marj, D. (2014). High Risk Drinking among Non-Affiliated College Students, Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education, Vol. 58 (1). Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-369129938/high-risk-drinking-among-non-affiliated-college-students
