Effects of Substance Use on Students’ Academic Performance in Selected Health Training Institutions

Abstract

Substance use is believed to be on the increase in many parts of the world and stakeholders have expressed their concerns on how this can adversely affect the users. Students in various institutions have taken up this action which is causing school authorities to implement rules to curb the menace. Aim This study sought to investigate effect of substance use on students’ academic performance. Materials and MethodsA quantitative and a cross sectional design was employed. Data was taken over a period of three months. Data was from February to May 2017. Samples under study were the Health Trainees from 2 health institutions. Microsoft excel was used to randomly select 325 samples from a population of 3300 using their index numbers. The schools’ administrative management assisted by giving out the names that owned the selected numbers. Questionnaires were administered and same collected. Introductory letter was collected from the University of Cape Coast’s Directorate of Research and Innovation Center for the Institutions selected for the study. ResultsThe study found that some trainees engage in the use of substances such as alcohol, marijuana and cigarette. Few use substances such as heroin, cocaine, diazepam and ecstasy but not as much as the use of alcohol, marijuana and cigarette. Based on the use of these substances, those trainees were found to be truant in class, they have health-related problems such as weakness in heart muscles, frequent sickness among others. They also have low motivation to learn due to poor perception, anxiety, and poor judgment among others