Mass Media Review 5(1) 138 DRUG ABUSE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS OF COOU NNAEMEKA OBIDIKE FRANK, PhD  Abstract In recent time, the media space is awash with reports of strange mental behaviours of varying degrees among Nigerian youth as a result of drug abuse. Of particular concern is the novel chemical substance, known as methamphetamine (crystal meth or mkpụrụ mmiri) and the alarming rate at which Nigeria youth indulge in quaffing and inhaling the substance. It therefore becomes imperative to evaluate the effects of drug abuse among students of higher learning in Nigeria, using the students from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State. The study is aimed at finding out the extent of the students’ involvement in drug abuse, their motivating factors, and the consequences of drug abuse in their life and in the society at large. The study is anchored on Social Learning theory and Phenomenological Theory. It adopted a survey research approach and drew a sample size of 400 respondents using the Taro Yamani’s formula. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Results from the study present the existence of drug/substance abuse among the target undergraduate students. Reasons for this reality in the University environment are attributed majorly to lack of parental guidance (51%) and peer group influence (17%) with consequences of drug abuse put at poor academic performance, criminality, violence, family disharmony. Among others, the study recommended that NDLEA and other agencies in the war against drug abuse should give significant focus on families and parents, that re-orientation drives should be engaged for a targeted fight against drug abuse at micro and macro levels where students are found and that for minors and majors in universities legal sanctions etc. should be explained in seminars and conferences. Keywords: Influence, Drug, Abuse, Students, Higher, Learning Introduction The issue of drug abuse is not peculiar to one nation, but has always been an international problem. In terms of origin, it has never been possible to confine drugs to a particular place of origin (UNOCD, 2021). Globally, drug problems started generating concern as long ago as 1909 when the first International Drug  Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus