Impact of Drug Abuse on School Attendance and Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Oyo State

This study examines the impact of drug abuse on school attendance and academic performance in public secondary schools in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Drug abuse among secondary school students has emerged as a significant social and public health concern in Nigeria, with documented links to truancy, poor academic outcomes, and early school dropout. In Oyo State, the proximity of many schools to urban drug markets and the increasing visibility of substance use among youth have heightened institutional concerns. The study uses a descriptive survey design and samples 380 students, teachers, and school counsellors from 40 public secondary schools across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and Oyo senatorial zones. Data are gathered through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions, and analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The study draws on the Problem Behaviour Theory of Jessor and Jessor. Findings indicate that students engaged in regular drug use have significantly lower school attendance rates and academic performance compared to their non-using peers. Peer pressure, family dysfunction, and inadequate school counselling services are the leading enabling factors. The study recommends the expansion of school-based drug prevention programmes and the deployment of additional qualified counsellors to schools in high-risk communities across Oyo State. Keywords: drug abuse, school attendance, academic performance, secondary schools, Oyo State.