The Influence of Substance Abuse on Students’ Academic Performance in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or excessive use of drugs or alcohol that leads to negative consequences on an individual's physical, mental, and social well-being. It involves the misuse or overuse of substances, such as illegal drugs, prescription medications or alcohol, in a way that impacts one's daily functioning, relationships, and overall health. Substance use has been on the increase in many parts of the world for quite some time now and many stakeholders have expressed their concerns on how this can adversely affect the users. Students in various institutions have also taken up this act which is causing school authorities to implement rules to curb the menace. The alarming evidence in the prevalence of drug abuse, the effects and consequences of substance abuse among students has called for concern and challenge to all helping professions to mount strategies of equipping youths with skills of living devoid of substance abuse. This paper therefore discusses the influence of substance abuse on students’ academic performance in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. The writer relied on context analysis and secondary data such as published and unpublished materials like text books, journals, newspapers and internet materials to gather and analyse the required data. The writer recommends among others that Counsellors are required to provide drug abuse education to the adolescent in Nigerian tertiary institutions. There is also the need for the establishment of counselling centres for drug control in the schools, community and private organisations.