Abstract
Drug abuse among students in Nigerian tertiary institutions has become a growing concern, with implications for social functioning, mental health, and academic performance. While previous studies have largely focused on prevalence rates and student self-reports, limited attention has been paid to lecturers’ perceptions, despite their central role in monitoring and shaping students’ learning environments. This study examined lecturers’ perceptions of the effects of drug abuse on students’ socio-interaction and mental health in public and private Colleges of Education in Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a sample of 240 lecturers selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire (PEDASMHQ) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and ANOVA. Results showed that lecturers perceived drug abuse as highly detrimental to students’ socio-interaction and mental health, manifesting in withdrawal, poor cooperation, aggression, anxiety, depression, and reduced motivation. No significant differences in perceptions were found based on institution type or gender. The study highlights the need for strengthened drug education, counseling services, and lecturer capacity-building to mitigate the negative consequences of drug abuse on students.