EFFECT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

The effects of drug use on first-year students at University of Benin (UNIBEN) were the focus of this study. The goals were to determine what elements were at play, assess how it affected things like social relationships, psychological health, and academic achievement, and to look at how social work treatments may help. This descriptive survey study surveyed 400 undergraduates (100L-400L) using Taro- Yamane determination techniques, in addition to 20 university health/mental-health professionals and 10 administrative staff members who were picked at random. The researcher used a questionnaire to collect data, and then descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations) were the main tools for analysis. Based on the results, it seems that the main reasons why students at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) use drugs are: peer pressure, academic stress and pressure, natural curiosity, lack of parental supervision, and the ease of access to drugs on and around campus. There will be measurable drops in focus and performance in the classroom, more absences, mental health issues (such as anxiety and depression), worsening physical health, and more participation in antisocial behaviors (such as cult membership, aggressiveness, and truancy). The importance of social workers to prevention and rehabilitation initiatives was emphasized by participants. Awareness campaigns, counseling, referrals to rehabilitation, student orientation, and cooperation across departments are all part of these endeavors. But there are institutional constraints that restrict the breadth of services provided, such as insufficient financing and a lack of qualified social workers. According to the results, drug abuse is a complex problem among college students, calling for holistic solutions based on ecological principles. Among other things, the study pushed for more funding and institutional support for campus social work units, more structured counseling and peer support programs, more targeted awareness and screening campaigns, and better partnerships between health services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other organizations to improve drug abuse prevention, early detection, and rehabilitation.