Over recent years, substance abuse among youths has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Various stakeholders, such as parents and teachers, have raised concerns over the youths' constantly rising cases of drug abuse. The situation has even worsened among the school-going children who get into drug abuse under peers' influence. Even though various institutions are putting measures to control students' use, the number has continued to rise, with parents and teachers blamed for students' substance abuse. According to Temple et al. (2017), some of the commonly used drugs among the students include Marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, Prescription Pills, and cigarettes, particularly e-cigarettes. According to a survey conducted by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, drug use among the youths remains high compared to the older population except for the traditional drugs such khat and opium, which are more prevalent among older people than adults (Tinasti, 2020). The study further indicates that most young people are at higher risk of initiating substance use between the age of 12 -17 years. Based on the statistic, the use of drugs among youths is likely to rise if nothing is done.
With many students turning to substance use across, the need to conduct more research on the adverse effects of substance use among the students, particularly on their performance, has been on the rise. Numerous studies have been conducted on the impact of drug abuse on the students' performance, with some claims that the use of drugs such as Marijuana could boost students' performance. Parents and teachers have continued to raise concern over the possible adverse effect of substance use on students' performance, thus prompting the need to conduct further investigation and study on the issue. Besides, the use of drugs has been reported to health effects and addiction among users. With people having contradicting opinions on the impact of substance abuse on students' performance, there is a need to conduct more studies to ascertain such claims
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This paper will determine whether substance use among students adversely affects their performance in school. By analyzing the four articles presented, the report will exhaust the commonly used drugs among the students of a specific age in different regions. The use of such substances affects their performance in school.
Academic Achievement
Use of drugs lower classroom participation, lower grades, increase academic dishonesty, and promote absenteeism.
According to a study conducted by Finn (2022) on the use of Marijuana at school and achievement-linked behaviors, substance use among students can adversely impact their academic achievement, especially Marijuana. Finn argues that Marijuana is one of the drugs commonly used by adolescents, especially high school and college-going students. According to Finn's study findings, 34 percent of students who participated in the study showed that they had used Marijuana in general, and 17 percent used it at school. Over 50 percent of students who were using Marijuana generally were attempted to use it in school. Among students using Marijuana either generally or at school, some had reported poor behaviors in all aspects of school compared to students who were not using Marijuana. The effects of Marijuana among the school users were found to be more adverse compared to general users. These students' poor behaviors were found to adversely affect their academic performance by lowering their participation in class, increasing their academic dishonesty, and promoting absenteeism. Students using Marijuana were more likely to be involved in exam malpractices due to lack of prior preparation and drugs' influence. Besides, they had a higher chance of not attending classes than students who were not using any substance.
Substance use facilitates anti-school behaviors and promotes the poor relationship between students and teachers:
According to a study conducted by Fletcher et al. (2009) on drugs among secondary school females, substance abuse among the female students promoted anti-school attitudes. It worsened the relationship status between students and teachers. The girls who participated in the study indicated how they were mistreated in school and perceived as children. The hyper girls further claim that the teacher had no respect for and where they came from, which significantly affected their relationship with the teacher. One of the female students called Jaz stated, "I've had to be an adult for, like, my whole life really but oh no, they just think they always know best 'cos they are the teacher and we are the students and we've gotta listen to them" (Fletcher et al., 2009). The female student described the deteriorating relationship between them and the teachers and how the teacher disrespected their views. Another female student also claimed that some teachers were treating them as if they are nothing; she said, "Some of the teachers treat you like nothing - it's like, 'You want respect, give me some.' I'm not giving them any respect if they don't give me any". All these mistreatments were adversely affecting the students' behaviors, thus affecting their performance
Students who are used to drugs cannot only maintain their performance when using the drugs
According to past studies, students using drugs will most likely get addicted to drugs. One of the main challenges of drug abuse is an addiction; millions of students fight drug addiction across the world. Addiction has a severe effect on students' performance since the teenagers who are using drugs cannot focus on their studies without using drugs. A survey conducted by Organ et al. (2016) on the well-being and reluctance of law students to encounter mental health concerns and substance abuse, a student using drugs are exposed to addiction-associated challenges such as anxiety, depression, mood disorder, and an eating disorder that affected their academic performance. Some of the students using drugs could not survive without the drugs due to addiction; they believed that their performance wholly depended on drugs. Therefore, failure to use the drugs would automatically reduce their performance. Besides, factors such as depression and anxiety have been found to affect student relationships with teachers and class attendance, thus affecting their performance.
Social and Emotional Factors
Students using drugs feel stressed, bored, pressured, and unsupported by teachers .
Substance abuse has been found to have a significant impact on users' emotional and social life. According to Finn (2012), the use of drugs such as Marijuana is having a considerable impact on users' social and emotional behavior. Among the students who participated in the study, substance users' actions had changed significantly; most substance users were more emotional to teachers and fellow students than non-users. In addition to that, marijuana users had poor socialization skills with fellow students, particularly the non-users. In his study, Finn states, "Whether or not their school behavior is generally worse or whether the punishment is for drug use, in particular, is not shown by these data, but there is a suggestion in the data that their behavior is generally worse" (Finn. 2012). The emotional and social factors can adversely impact students' performance since it affects their interaction with teachers and students. Besides, passionate students are likely to resist group work and consultations, critical academic performance factors.
The use of drugs leads to social and educational inequalities
In most cases, students who use drugs tend to perceive themselves as superior to other students; they believe that they belong to a given social class above the rest. Individuals who abuse drugs also like to separate themselves from the rest of the students; they develop mood disorders that can hardly be managed by fellow students, particularly the non-users. According to the study conducted by Fletcher et al. (2009), the three female students who participate in the study perceived themselves as classier than the rest. The author indicates that the students had adopted their own styles at schools based on unwanted items in school; this escalated the poor relationship with teachers, affecting their studies. The group had also created some social class to be involved in illegal activities such as smoking cannabis and cigarettes. Fletcher states, "They had also adopted their style at school based on mini-skirts, un-tucked shirts, and their makeup and jewelry, which caused further arguments with teachers. Taken together with smoking cigarettes and cannabis…" (Fletcher et al., 2009). The behaviors of these female students initiated social and educational inequalities, thus promoting poor participation in the classroom and the ultimate reduction in students' performance
Poor Family Relations and Financial Concerns
Past studies have indicated that individuals who use drugs will most likely have a poor relationship with other family members. People who use drugs tend to embrace behaviors that are no liked by many, including the family members. There are several instances where parents have disowned their children because of drug addiction. According to Williams et al. (2007), on the academic performance and substance use among the black Americans in high school, the use of Marijuana was associated with financial challenges, parental substance use norms, and academic performance. The majority of African American students using drugs were challenged with family problems and economic constraints that eventually affect their academic performance. Students with financial difficulties and family struggles are likely to develop stress and anxiety that can ultimately affect their academic performance in school.
Motivational Factors
Students who use drugs lack motivational factors; they interact with their fellow misbehaved and rebellious students who cannot motivate them.
In the academic field, motivation is one of the critical elements of good performance. Without proper inspiration, students can feel very discouraged in their studies, thus lowering their academic performance. Based on research conducted by Finn (2012), student motivation was crucial in managing their performance. The research showed that students who use drugs had less motivational factors as compared to non-users. The majority of drug addicts are depressed and anxious. They tend to have a rebellious attitude with a feeling of low esteem, thus affecting their motivation. Most of the students who have gotten deeply into drugs are more feel neglected by friends and family. Furthermore, students who use substance are more likely to interact with rebellious and misbehaved peers who could discourage them rather than motivate them.
Some student use substance abuse as a source of excitement and motivation
The study has shown that most students who use drugs do so as a source of excitement; they use the pills to bond with others and embrace other cultures. The study by Fletcher et al. (2009) indicates that some students use drugs as a source of entertainment. One of the female students who participated in Fletcher's showed how they used weekends to get "stoned" and "pissed" She referred to Fridays as "high-day" associated with the use of heavy cannabis. The female participant said, "Nadine described how their weekends were structured around getting 'pissed' and 'stoned,' she called Friday 'high-day' and associated it with even more massive cannabis use than standard" Fletcher et al. (2009). Depending on the student's behaviors, the excitement could be used to read do other things.
Increase alertness and enhance better concentration
Some students also use drugs to enhance concentration and alertness in class, thus improving their performance. According to the research conducted by Organ et al. (2016), 64 percent of students reported being using drugs to increase their alertness in school and study for longer hours. In this case, the students claimed to be using the drugs to boost their performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, substance abuse adversely affects the academic performance of students. Based on the articles' analysis, substance use among school-going students harms student behaviors, affecting their performance. Some of the highlighted effects include lower-class participation, absenteeism, academic dishonesty, and lack of support from both students and teachers. However, some students also claim to use the drugs as a motivational factor in class, thus improving their performance. The literature's significant gap is about the impact of drugs on students' performance based on their gender. The future research question is, "whether drugs can be used to improve performance?"
References
Finn, K. V. (2012). Marijuana use at school and achievement-linked behaviors. The High School Journal , 95 (3), 3-13.
Fletcher, A., Bonell, C., & Rhodes, T. (2009). New counter‐school cultures: female students' drug use at a high‐achieving secondary school. British Journal of Sociology of Education , 30 (5), 549-562.
Organ, J. M., Jaffe, D. B., & Bender, K. M. (2016). Suffering in silence: The survey of law student well-being and the reluctance of law students to seek help for substance use and mental health concerns. Journal of Legal Education , 66 (1), 116-156.
Temple, J. R., Shorey, R. C., Lu, Y., Torres, E., Stuart, G. L., & Le, V. D. (2017). E‐cigarette use of young adults motivations and associations with combustible cigarette alcohol, Marijuana, and other illicit drugs. The American journal on addictions , 26 (4), 343-348
Tinasti, K. (2020). Drug use, policies, and prohibition in Muslim countries. In Research Handbook on International Drug Policy . Edward Elgar Publishing.
Williams, J. H., Davis, L. E., Johnson, S. D., Williams, T. R., Saunders, J. A., & Nebbitt, V. E. (2007). Substance use and academic performance among African American high school students. Social Work Research , 31 (3), 151-161.
