Drug Use as a Leading Cause of Poor Academic Performance among College Students
Introduction

There are a wide range of factors that negatively impact the academic performance of college students. Some of the factors that have been routinely mentioned on this front include, but they are not limited to: failure to attend classes, inattentiveness in class, job-related stress, depression and anxiety (i.e. as a consequence of familial/marital problems), etc. One factor that has in the recent past received significant attention in as far as its impact on the academic performance of college students is concerned is drug/substance abuse.

Discussion

From the onset, it is important to note that according to the World Health Organization – WHO, drug/substance abuse could be defined as “the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.” For most young adults, college happens to be a period where they learn and experiment with many things (Skidmore, Kaufman, and Crowell 737). It is also during this very period when the said young adults are likely to engage in behaviors that could be deemed risky. This effectively explains why concerns relating to recreational drug use and alcohol abuse have always been significant problems in our campuses. Indeed, according to Skidmore, Kaufman, and Crowell, “substance use is a significant problem among college students and is associated with a host of consequences, including increased risk of mortality” (736). In addition, from a general perspective, drug abuse has been linked to a wide range of other adverse outcomes including the occurrence of preventable accidents, engagement in irresponsible behavior (such as unprotected sex), as well development of a wide range of health complications.

One other adverse effect that has been receiving significant attention in recent times is poor academic performance. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention – CDC points out...…that despite there being data clearly indicating that substance and drug abuse do have an adverse impact on academic performance, there has been no significant change in as far as drug/substance abuse trends are concerned amongst learners at the university/college level. It therefore follows that it may be time for the relevant stakeholders, including the government and educational institutions, to step in and address this particular issue once and for all. This is more so the case given that the future of the nation is largely dependent upon the capabilities and abilities of our young people. Apart from the substances/drugs highlighted above, it would be prudent to note that as Skidmore, Kaufman, and Crowell note, there are many other drugs that college students routinely abuse (744). These, according to the authors, are tobacco and prescription drugs. These also ought to be taken into consideration in seeking to formulate and define intervention measures.

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