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Chapter One of Incident, Causes, Consequences and Effect of Drugs Abuse Among Nigerian Youths: a Case Study of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
The term drug is defined as mixtures of chemical entities that when absorbed into a living organism may change one or more of its physiological functions. The term is generally used in reference to a substance taken for both therapeutic purpose and abused substances (Kwamanga, Odhiambo & Amukoye, 2003). Globally and even regionally, drug and substance abuse is an ever expanding problem and is recognized as a threat with serious effects on people’s health, security, social-economic and cultural welfare. In Nigeria, youths have consistently shown that there is considerable prevalence of drug and substance use; with varying preference rates found for both overall and specific drug abuse (Abdulkarim, 2005). Some of these commonly abused substances include tobacco, Miraa (khat), bhang, alcohol, cocaine, mandrax, codeine and heroine (NACADA, 2006).
Drugs pose a very big problem in the world today and it is ruining the lives of many millions of people both in adolescent and general population. The use of illegal drugs has spread at a high rate and has penetrated every part of the world. No nation has been spared from the devastating problem caused by drugs and substance abuse. Nigeria has not been spared either and in most cases it has been as a transit point of hard drugs especially through Ilorin and its environs. Trafficking of hard drugs into developing countries has not spared Nigeria the drug consumption and dependence among secondary and college students and has led to unrest and consequently wide ranging destruction of life and property (Ngesu, Ndiku & Masese, 2008). Factors influencing youths to drug use have been identified among them parental influence whereby it has been noted that children from homes where parents take drugs tend to imitate their parents’ behaviours and by modelling they also start using drugs (Ngesu, et al 2008).
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School factors can also influence students to drug use (Ngesu et al: 2008). How the school administration manages students’ affairs may lead to drug abuse, high handedness, lack of freedom and failure to address them generally creates stress which can lead to abuse of drugs as depressors (Kingala, 2000). Unfortunately, across all continents in the world and throughout time, drug abuse among both the young and adult population has manifested itself in various forms. It appears that drug abuse affects behaviour and its effects on youths whose prevalence was assessed in this study, is a worldwide problem with no exception of Nigerian society. Use of drugs has led to many health problems in the youths.
The youth experience many special problems and considerations. This is the period of adolescence which is full of many challenges such as stress of physiological and physical change, competition in school and life in general, generation gap, unjust and cruel world among other problems. Psychologically, the adolescents have serious developmental tasks to handle such as peer identification and individualization from their family. Sexual identification; societal and vocational; role identification and negotiating issues of authority power and independence are primary (Oketch, 2008).
A report by United Nation Drug Control Programme (UNDCP, 1998) showed that 60% of student’s abuse drugs. A survey by National Council Against Drug Abuse (NACADA, 2006) shows that substance abuse is widespread. It affects the youth mostly although it cuts across all social groups. Many young people especially the unemployed have resulted to using drugs like heroin and cocaine which are injectables. This has been a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS due to the fact that they share syringes. Other drugs like alcohol can lead to risky sexual behaviour as they affect judgment and decision making. A drunkard is unable to assert himself or herself especially when it comes to saying no to unprotected sex thus resulting to exposures to sexually transmitted infections.
Research findings indicate that there is a direct linkage between drug and substance abuse and HIV and AIDS prevalence (NACADA, 2006). According to Siringi and Waihenya (2001), 22% of secondary school students are on drugs and it has been found out that males have high exposure to miraa and inhalants than females. Poverty also encourages drug use among students due to absenteeism and idleness (Adelekan 1998). As a result of lack of school fees, with availability of and access to drugs in the village kiosks the idleness may in one way or another encourage high prevalence of drug use among youths aged 18-30 years old. This study therefore investigated incident, causes, consequences and effect of drugs abuse among Nigerian youths by using Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria, as a case study.
Statement of the Problem
It is evident that drug use and abuse is still a problem in Kenyan secondary schools despite the various measures taken to curb it. Drug abuse menace has strangled youthful population both secondary school students and non-students reducing them to dummies, zombies and drooling figures as well as wasting their lives at the age which they are most needed in society (Ngesu, et al 2008). Although the youth have been educated on the dangers of the drug abuse, most of the secondary school students have little or no knowledge of how dangerous the vice is (Ngesu et al 2008). Although students are expected to be aware of the effects of drug abuse and commit themselves to their studies, the habit still exists.
Drug and substance abuse lead to many problems in schools especially strikes which are normally experienced in schools although many people attribute the strikes to school mocks especially in the second term of the academic calendar. It is possible that students who abuse drugs while in school play a big role in influencing acts like strikes as they are under the influence of drugs.
Although several researchers have preventive measures suggested, the researchers have not effectively led to the desired results of curbing the menace of drug and substance abuse in Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria. This is because apart from the youths facing a lot of challenges as individuals, the family and society including the church and school have not come out wholly to initiate methods of helping the youngsters. There is always a conflict of interest on who has the upper hand in helping the youths. It was against this background that this study investigated the incidence, causes, consequences and effect of drugs abuse among Nigerian youths by using Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria, as a case study.
Research Objectives
The study has both general objective and specific objectives. The general objective or main objective of this study is to assess the incidence, causes, consequences and effect of drugs abuse among Nigerian youths by using Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria, as a case study. The specific objectives are:
i) To establish how peer pressure influences drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria
ii) To examine the prevalence of drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria
iii) To identify how drug and substance abuse can be minimized in Nigeria
iv) To identify the consequences of drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria
Research Questions
The following are some of the questions which this study intends to answer:
i) How does peer pressure influence drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria?
ii) What is the prevalence of drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria?
iii) How can drug and substance abuse be minimized in Nigeria?
iv) What are the consequences of drug and substance abuse among the youths of Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria?
Significance of the Study
This work is significant because drug and it is abuse was exposed here. The role of the government concerning drug abuse will also be examined. Through this study, drug abuse among youths in Nigeria will be addressed with a view to finding lasting solutions to the problem. This work will also be of great benefits to the Nigerian youths because it will make them know the implication of drug and its abuse. If the government should really carry out their role towards drug abuse in Nigeria, it will be reduced or put to stop and Nigerian youths will turn over a new leaf and make positive contributions to their families and to the society at large.
Scope of the Study
The study is on the youths and drug abuse and challenges for the Nigerian government on drug abuse in the Nigerian society. Apart from the topic itself, many areas about drug abuse were treated in this research work.
Limitation of the Study
The data collection technique was mainly the use of questionnaires which were used to obtain data from the respondents. There were chances that some respondents might have been unwilling to respond to the questionnaires. The researcher explained the research objectives to four factors which might, have been conclusive evidence as there are many other factors which are beyond the control of the researcher. Such factors may have included inadequate rehabilitation centres, breakdown of African culture, lack of parental influence, availability of pocket money and school related factors. There were a lot of funds needed to carry out a research so the researcher required a lot of money to research on the causes and effects of drug and substance abuse among Nigerian Army School of Education Ilorin, Nigeria.
Definition of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Drug: Refers to any chemical substance which when taken into the body that can affect one or more of the body’s functions.
Drug misuse: Refers to the usage of any drug for any other purpose other than the recommended one.
Drug abuse: Refers to excessive illegal drug use and/ or legal drug use without a doctor’s prescription.
Drug tolerance: Refers to a state of reduced sensitivity of a drug to the body at given regular (normal) dose.
Substance abuse: Refers to harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and other illicit drugs to stimulate behaviour.
Drug dependence: Refers to repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance, withdrawal and compulsive drug taking.
Peer pressure: Refers to tendency to conform to the values and expectations of the peer group.
Prevalence: Refers to the magnitude of drug use among a particular age population.
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