Fast facts on worrying drug abuse in primary schools
SEE ALSO :Survey: How school children abuse drugsThe report notes that use of bhang, inhalants, heroin and cocaine are at below 1 per cent. Who has tried a drug? Data from the survey shows 20.2 per cent of primary school pupils have used at least one drug or substance of abuse in their lifetime. At least 10.4 per cent of the pupils have ever used prescription drugs in their lifetime and 7.2 per cent have tried alcohol. Where do they buy them? The students mainly get the drugs and substances kiosks or shops near school (28.6 per cent), bars around their schools (25.7 per cent), from their friends (19.3 per cent), or buy from other students (13.7 per cent); and school workers (13.6 per cent). School holidays top the list of the periods they abuse the drugs with inter-school competitions and weekends getting a mention too. How does it affect them? The report associates drugs or substance abuse with class repetition and decline in academic performance. It says pupils who use at least one drug or substance of abuse are 18 per cent more likely to repeat a class while the vice was associated with a 6.4 per cent decline in academic performance. What are the risk factors associated with drug abuse? Pupils from families where parent(s) or guardian(s) were using drugs or substances of abuse said to be more likely to use the substances. Those with knowledge of a friend or schoolmate who was abusing drugs also likely to follow suit. Weak parental guidance and enforcement of laws also mentioned. Other risk factors include family conflicts, exposure to advertisements of drugs e.g. alcohol through mass media; negative role modelling by teachers; and existences of bars, shops or kiosks near schools.
We are undertaking a survey to help us improve our content for you. This will only take 1 minute of your time, please give us your feedback by clicking HERE. All responses will be confidential.