Effects of Substance Use Disorder on the Students’ Academic Performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, the use of drugs in academic institutions has emerged which adversely affects the everyday activities and academic performance of the students. This study was designed to analyze the substance use disorder on the students’ academic performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study deployed the quantitative research approach involving a self-designed structured questionnaire from 120 drug addict students by using a snowball sampling technique from one college of District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The data were analyzed through the Chi-square test to test the association between independent and dependent variables. The results unveil that most of the participants were up to the age of 23 years, single and BS students were more exposed to drugs. The study found a significant association between the use of drugs and poor academic performance due to lack of interest in the classes, facing difficulties in the lectures, neglect to complete the tasks/assignments, difficult to concentrate on studies, absenteeism, strained relationships with other students, poor memory and psychiatric comorbidity The study recommends that law enforcement agencies should pay attention to combating drugs; the colleges’ administration may monitor to prevent the use of drugs on the college premises and arrange seminars to make the students aware of the toxicity of the drugs.