ABSTRACT

Abstract

The unabated use and misuse of drugs among students as reported in recent times suggests that students are unaware of the consequences of drug use and misuse it becomes worrisome to researchers in the field of research in education. This study was hence conducted to investigate the perceived implications of drug use/ abuse among students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, South-West, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted to study the target population made up of all full-time athlete students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, South-West, Nigeria. A representative sample of 112 athletes comprising 84 male (75%) and 28 females (25%) was obtained through purposive random sampling techniques. A validated self structured questionnaire with a Cronbach-Alpha reliability of 0.83 and standardized Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), developed in 1982, as instrument were used to collect data. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, pie-chart, chi-square and t-test. The study revealed that there is inadequate education on banned drugs which encourages the continual use of drugs; also, there is relationship between high risky behaviors and illegal drug use. It was concluded that male and female athletes had similar view about drug use and abuse. It is therefore recommended that drug education should be effortlessly reinforced and taught in schools at all levels through various means.