IMPACT OF DRUGS ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ LEARNING

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of drugs on university students’ learning. It examined how drugs affect students’ academic performance and well-being. The main aims were to explore the socio-economic profile of drug users, identify the leading reasons for abuse, assess family and peer attitudes, and determine the effects on health and learning. A descriptive survey design was adopted, as it allowed the researcher to present the characteristics of the population clearly. The sample included 70 male students from Government College University Faisalabad, selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected with the help of a structured and pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Mean and standard deviation were calculated to rank the major factors. Results revealed that most users were undergraduates aged 21–25, with academic stress, peer pressure, and drug availability as the most common drivers of misuse. Families often showed sympathy, while peers were more likely to stigmatize, although both groups sometimes enabled continued use. Findings also confirmed that drug abuse had severe effects on students’ health and learning, leading to weak concentration, poor memorization, absenteeism, low grades, and in some cases dropping out. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions by families, universities, and policymakers to reduce student vulnerability to drugs and safeguard educational outcomes.