Substance Abuse and Secondary School Student Performance: A Study of Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State

Abstract

There is growing local and international concern about substance abuse and academic performance among secondary school students all over the world. The simple reason is that the development of quality education and a country’s investment in education and human resources are seen as essential for promoting worldwide development, hence the need for this study. The study examines substance abuse and academic performance among secondary school students in Khana LGA of Rivers State. It is anchored on Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and Jessor’s Problem Behaviour Theory. The study adopts a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study is 6,616, consisting of all the Senior Secondary Two (SS2) students in Khana LGA of Rivers State. The study centers around the 47 public secondary schools in the LGA The sample size consists of one hundred and five (105) students drawn from ten (10) public secondary schools in the LGA. A 20-item structured questionnaire titled "Influence of Substance Abuse on the Academic Performance of Secondary School Students Questionnaire" informed the primary method of data collection. The data analysis techniques include the use of frequency counts and percentages to provide a clear description of both participants’ personal information and also address the research questions. Based on the findings of the study, certain recommendations that will discourage students from involving in substance abuse so as to enhance their academic performance in the area under study are proffered.