UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

MUTARE TEACHERS COLLEGE

DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION (SECONDARY)
HEALTH AND LIFE SKILLS (HLS)
2024 THREE YEAR FINALIST
HLS 331 ASSIGNMENT

NAME: FLORENCE MANGWENDE

CAND: 290/22
Assignment question

There is an increase in the number of pupils abusing drugs and substances in schools. Basing
on your teaching practice experience, give four ways in which teaching and learning is being
affected. Suggest four strategies you would employ to reduce drug and substance abuse in
schools. (100 marks)

Spacing 1.5; Times New Roman; Font size 12; 3-5 pages (excluding references)

Due Date: 5 March 2024

MARK ALLOCATION
Introduction 5 marks
Definition of terms 5 marks
Ways 40 marks
Strategies 40 marks
Conclusion 5 marks
References 5 marks
Total 100 marks

TUTORS’
COMMENTS:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

FINAL MARK: ----------------------.

NAME OF MARKER: -----------------------------------------

The use of drugs by adolescence students in schools had become an
embarrassing obstacle which has many challenges includes decreased
motivation and encouragement impaired cognitive functioning, behavioral
issues, Attendance and retention, poor academic performance, health and
safety concerns. So it is important for educators and school s to
implement strategies to reduce drug and substance abuse among
students. This includes education and prevention programs, implementing
and forcing school policies related to substance abuse, providing
counselling and support services, promoting positive coping strategies,
engaging parents and the wider committee in prevention efforts. By
addressing drug and substance abuse in educational settings, schools can
create a safer and more supportive learning environment for all students.

Definition of terms

Drug-is any substance other than food that is taken into the body and
alters its function or state.

Drug abuse- any substance that when absorbed into a living organism
may modify one or more of its physiological functions.

Substance abuse-refers to harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive

substances including alcohol and other illicit drugs to stimulate behavior.

Drugs has become a stumbling block to the students learning behavior

which is an essential element in education practice. It has to lead to many
problems among the students. It affects leaving and learning below is
some of the ways in which teaching and learning is affected by the use of
drug and substance abuse:

Behavioral issues- Ann Marrie Adams (2019), drug and substance abuse
can lead to disruptive and problematic behavior in the classroom, creating
a challenging learning environment for both the students and their peers.
The student’s behavior will disrupts concentration such that it can impair
a person’s ability to focus and pay attention. This can result in decreased
concentration and difficulty staying on task while teaching or learning.
Drugs can negatively affect memory and the ability to process new
information. This can hinder a person’s ability to retain and to recall
information making it difficult to learn or teach. The bad behavior also
affects emotional regulation leading to mood swings and substance abuse
have a significant impact on teaching and learning in educational settings.
Students who engage in drug and substance abuse are more likely to
experience a variety of challenges that can interfere with their
educational outcomes. This can affect the overall classroom or learning
environment. As result drug and substance abuse on behavioral misuse
can impair an individual’s ability to make sound decisions and exercise
good management. This has an impact on their ability to make rational
teaching decisions or make responsible choice as a student. Some will
change their behavior such that they will make unnecessary behavior in
the class that disturbs the whole learning.

Academic performance-drug and substance abuse leads to impaired

cognitive functioning, memory problems, poor concentration and reduced
academic performance, Nora D. Volkow (2016). Students on drug and
substance abuse often have difficulties in concentrating and staying
focused in the class. They also struggle to remember what they have
learnt before or during the lesson and the completion of the assignments
in time. Additionally, they may miss school more often, which leads to
them failing and lefting behind on their school work. Some of these factors
leads to poor academic performances and in some cases resulting in
failing at school. In extreme cases some of them may even abscond
lessons or drop out from the school.

Attendance and retention-According to Carey, k (2012), attendance

and retention e use of drugs have a significant impact on a student’s
ability to attend and retain information in the classroom. When students
are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may have difficult in
concentrating and maybe more likely to miss the class. In addition,
students who are abusing drugs may not be able to retain the information
that they are learning which leads to poor grades and an ability to move
forward in their education. In some cases, drugs and substances abuse
can lead to students dropping out of school they will be trying to avoid to
be caught. Additionally, those who are addicted to drugs may find it
difficult to focus in classes. Finally, students who are dealing with
addiction may also be more likely to engage in risky behavior such as
skipping class that could further jeopardize their education.

Health and safety concerns-drug and substance abuse contributes to

health issues and safety concerns in the classroom, affecting both the
students’ well-being and learning environment as a whole. When student
is under influence of drugs or alcohol, they may more likely to engage in
risky behaviors that can put their health and safety at risk. For example,
they may be more likely to drive while intoxicated, to have unprotected
sex, or to engage in other dangerous behaviors in addiction, drug and
substance abuse can also lead to physical health problems such as liver
damage, heart disease and cancer.

I would also employ some strategies to reduce drug and substance abuse
in teaching and learning .Below are some of the strategies I would
employ:

Counselling and support services-by doing counselling and support

services to students struggling with drug and substance abuse can help
them to get the assistance they need to address their challenges and
focus on their studies. Support services such as care management, can
help the students to connect with the resources they need to overcome
their addiction. These services can also provide the support to parents
and care givers, who may be struggling to help their children through
difficult times. For example a counselor can help a student to explore why
they are using drugs and provide them with skills and resources they need
to make positive changed in their lives. In addition, a counselor also helps
a student to develop healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress
and other triggers that may lead to drug abuse. Finally a counselor
provides an ongoing support and encouragement as a student works to
overcome their addiction. National Institute on drug abuse (2020).
Education and prevention program-Is one of the most effective
strategies for reducing drug and substance abuse in teaching And learning
is to implement education prevention programs. These programs provides
students with information about the dangers of drug and substance
abuse, as well as the consequences of these behaviors and healthy coping
strategies. These programs helps in building a supportive environment in
the school, where students feel comfortable in seeking help if they need
it. This makes the students to understand the negative physical,
emotional, and social effects of drug abuse. Additionally, these programs
also educate students about the signs and symptoms of drug abuses on
these they will tell their friends as well as knowing the dangers of drug
and substance abuse. By alarming students with the knowledge and skills
they need to make healthy decisions, education and prevention programs
can make a lasting impact on it. This helps the student to connect with
resources that can help them to stay on track academically and to
overcome any addictions issues they may be facing.

School policies-establishing and enforcing clear school policies related

to drug and substance abuse can help to create a safe supportive learning
environment. Schools can create zero tolerance policies for drug use on
school grounds and provides disciplinary consequences for students found
using or possessing drugs. This includes policies on testing, disciplinary
action, and referrals to treatment program. School policies also provides
support for students who are struggling with drug abuse by offering
counselling and other resources. The policies can also help to ensure that
all students have access to a safe and healthy learning environment by
promoting positive behaviors and discouraging negative ones. When
implemented effectively, school policies can be a powerful tool for
reducing drug and substance abuse (Hari J 92015). Additionally, schools
can create policies that promote a positive and supportive learning
environment such as policies on bullying, harassment and discrimination.
By creating and implementing these policies, schools can create a culture
that is not conducive to drug and substance abuse.
Parent and community involvement-the involvement of the parent
and the community is another key strategy for reducing drug and
substance abuse in teaching and learning. Engaging the parents and
wider community in drug and substance abuse prevention efforts can
provide additional support for students and help create a network of
resources and assistance. Ron Haggerty(2018), by creating opportunities
for parents and community members to be involved in the school such as
through parent teacher organizations, school board meetings and after
school programs. School can foster a sense of shared responsibility for the
health and wellbeing of the students. Additionally, parents can help to
educate their children about the risks of drug use and can set a positive
example by abstaining from drug abuse themselves. The community can
also play a role by providing access to afterschool programs, youth clubs
and other positive activities that can keep students engaged and away
from drugs. These opportunities help to build relationships between
parents, community members and school staff which create a stronger
and more supportive environment.

To conclude, drug and substance abuse in teaching and learning have a

variety of negative effects on students, including impaired cognitive
function, poor academic performance, health and safety concerns and
decreased motivation and engagement. However, a number of strategies
that can be used to reduce prevalence of drug and substance abuse in
teaching and learning. These strategies includes education and
prevention programs, school policies and parent’s community involve
them. When implemented effectively, these strategies can help to create
a safe and drug-free learning environment for all students.
REFERRENCES

Ron Haggerty, Director of the institute on drug abuse (2018).

Nora [Link], drugs, brains, and behavior (2016).

Ann Marie Adams (2019) Efficacy of school-based.

Carey, K, (2012) Substance abuse and the education of children with

disabilities.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2020) Preventing Drug abuse among

children adolescence.[Link] [Link]/publications/preventing.

Hari. J. (2015)

Substance Abuse and Prevention in Schools (US Department of Education

2019)

Preventing Drugs in Schools: A Strategy Approach (UNODC, 2018)

The Effects of Substance Abuse on Adolescence, (Routiledge, 2018)

School-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs (Oxford University

Press, 2018)