THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SUNYANI WEST DISTRICT

Abstract

Background: Illicit drug use has become a major public health concern in Ghana, particularly among senior high school students in Sunyani West District. This study sought to discuss the use of illicit drug and their effects on academic performance among senior high school students in Sunyani- West District in the Brong-Ahafo Region. Methods: The study was quantitative in nature. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 418 respondents from selected cluster schools in the Sunyani – West District. The results were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: It was found out that the commonly illicit drugs used were alcohol (42.0%), tramadol (31.0%) and the least were cannabis (14.0%) and cocaine (3.0%). The study revealed that substance use among family members, poor parental supervision, family conflict, peer pressure, availability and accessibility of illicit drugs were the factors associated with illicit substance use among senior high school students in Sunyani- West District. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the respondents said they have experimented with illicit drugs and were still using them. Conclusion: Many of the respondents were knowledgeable in identifying illicit drugs. The sources of knowledge were cited as school, radio, friends, internets and literature. Absenteeism, truancy, poor self-control, high level of conflict, decrease ability to concentrate, school dropout, individual neurobiological level, poor reputation and declining of retention rate were effects associated with illicit drug use. Illicit drug use and poor academic performances were linked where it used led to decline in their academic performance.