CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
    The history of human race has also been the history of drug abuse (Maithya, 2007). In itself, the use of drugs does not constitute an evil; in fact some drugs have been a medical blessing. (Maithya, 2009) Since, time in memorial earliest times, herbs, roots, bark leaves have been used to relieve pain and help control diseases. History tells us that the Chinese used Opium as a cure of dysentery before the 18thcentury.  European countries such as Britain and Holland were known to exchange opium growth in their colonies for tea and silk with China.  Unfortunately, certain drugs that initially produce enticing effects, such as sense of feeling good, elation, serenity and power have evolved into a problem of dependence and abuse.
Drug  abuse  is  a  global  problem  that  poses  a  great  danger  to  the  lives  of individuals, society and political stability and security in many countries (United Nations, 2002). According to the United Nations (2005), the use of illicit drugs has increased throughout the world and the major world trend is the increasing availability of many kinds of drugs among ever widening spectrum of consumers. Of major concern is that children seem to be targeted as the new market for the drug industry globally.
Drugs and substance abuse has become the focus of research and preventive activities in the developed countries for decades (Muyabo, 2011). A study carried out by the London School of Economics in 1980 on students learning behaviour revealed a relationship between drug abuse and poor academic results (Otieno, Balswick & Norland, 2009).Africa has not been spared from the abuse of drugs by the youth. The continent, over recent years has experienced an upsurge in the production, distribution and consumption of drugs with the youth and young adults being most affected (Asuni & Pela, 2007).
Africa has huge young and vulnerable populations which has become the target market for the illicit drug industry. This constitutes 56% of the population aged between 14-19 years, which constitutes secondary school students. In Ethiopia it is reported that 82 per cent of the street children in Addis Ababa use some kind of a drug (United Nations, 2013). Besides, the threat of increasing consumption of illicit drugs amongst the young people and children, South Africa is becoming a major  transhipment  point  in  the  international  drug  trade  as  well  as  a  major producer of Dagaa (Honwana & Lamb, 2014). Gilberto Gerra (2013), the chief of drug and preventive health branch at the United Nations office on drugs and crime pointed out that West Africa is completely weak in terms of boarder control, undermanned ports and the big drug cartels from Colombia and Latin America have chosen Africa as a way to reach Europe. The United Nations official (Gerra) added that when a country becomes a transit point it immediately becomes a consumption country.
According to the United Nations (UN) statistics 2013, 37,000 people in Africa die annually from diseases associated with drug abuse. The UN estimates that there 28 million drug users in Africa (United Nations, 2013).  An  International conference  on  drug  abuse  in  Kampala  2013  reported  that  young  people  in consumption  countries  were  the  most  vulnerable  section  of  the  population, especially those in the period of early and late adolescence who are mostly unable to resist peer pressure and start experimenting with drugs in schools or even outside school. The international conference on drug abuse in (Kampala 2013) advocated for an immediate strong inventions to reverse the trend.
Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems, poor peer relationships and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society like conflict between friends, family breakdown, violence, gangs, drug trafficking etc.
Declining grades, absenteeism from school and other activities, and increased potential for dropping out of school are problems associated with adolescent substance abuse. Hawkins, Calatano and Miler (2007) had research finding that low level of commitment to education and higher truancy rates appear to be related to substance use among adolescents. Again drugs abused effect the brain, this result in major decline in the functions carried out by the brain (Abot, 2005). Drugs affect the students concentration span, which is drastically reduced and boredom sets in much faster than for non-drug and substance abusers.
The student will lose interest in school work including extra curriculum activities. Most of the psychoactive drugs affect the decision making process of the students, creative thinking and the development of the necessary life and social skills are stunted. They also interfere with the awareness of an individual’s unique potential and interest thus affecting their career development (Kikuvi, 2009).