INFLUENCE OF DRUGS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY
OF INDIVIDUALS’ IN NIGERIA
DEEDENWII,
BARITURE N.
(ND,
D.CL)
debbyhorsafall143@gmail.com
School
of Management Sciences
Department
of Office Technology and Management
Kenule
Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic
P.M.B
20
Bori
Abstract
The research work
examines the influence of drugs on the sustainability of individuals in Nigeria.
The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of drugs abuse on
the individuals in Nigeria. The population of the study was 18, 090 individuals,
out of which 400 was drawn out as the sample size, from selected communities in
Nigeria. The study was carried out in urban and rural areas in Rivers State of
Nigeria. The data was collected by use of questionnaires, interviews and
supplemented by personal interviews where necessary. Data analysis was done
using descriptive statistics after data cleaning and coding. Quantitative data
was analysed using frequency counts, means and percentages while qualitative
data was analysed by tallying the numbers of similar responses. Results of data
analysis were presented using frequency distribution tables and bar graphs. It
was found that there is a significant effect of drugs on the individuals’, also
the study established that more individuals’ were able to access drugs and more
are at risk of being influenced to start using drugs. It is therefore
recommended that government should enforce strict rules on alcohol and drug
abuse by requiring all social events during orientation of first years to be
alcohol free, disseminate responsible host guidelines for both on and off
parties, install a responsible beverage service program, eliminate residence
hall delivery of alcohol purchases, advertise food and activities, such as
dancing or sports, rather than drinking as the focus of the event.
1.1 Introduction
Drug abuse is
the Use of drugs for purposes other than medical reasons, thus affecting the
individual in a negative way socially, cognitively or physically (Kuria 1996).
Social effects may be reflected in an individual’s enhanced tendency to engage
in conflicts with friends, teachers, and school authorities. Cognitive effects
relate to the individual’s lack of concentration on work and memory loss. While
Lewinsohn (2007) defines a drug as any product other than food or water that
affects the way people feel, think, see, and behave. It is a substance that due
to its chemical nature affects physical, mental and emotional functioning. It
can enter the body through chewing, inhaling, smoking, drinking, rubbing on the
skin or injection.
Drug abuse
amongst the global youth population has become a serious problem affecting
everyone. Addiction leads many people, young people prominent amongst them,
into downward spiral of hopelessness that in some cases ends fatal. They range
from glue- sniffing street children and teenage ecstasy users, to hard core
heroin and cocaine addicts (Nacada, 2005). Drug abuse is responsible for lost
wages, destruction of property, soaring health care costs and broken families.
It is a problem which affects us all as parents, children, teachers, government
officials, taxpayers and workers. The use of hard drugs by individuals in
Nigerian has become an embarrassing occurrence to parents, schools, government
authorities, and the society at large. The constant abuse of drugs among this
group can cause psycho-social problems in society. One may hope that this
hateful practice and its associated problems would not lead to the breeding of
deranged generation of youths. This fear is not speculative because of what
happens to be the frequent and rampant drug crises in many Nigerian societies.
Unfortunately,
some of the risk that individuals take may pose a real threat to their health
and well being. These include pregnancy, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol
consumption and drug abuse. Odejide (2000) posited that drug is said to be
abused when its use is not pharmacologically necessary especially when used in
the face of legal prohibition or when a socially acceptable beverage is used
excessively. Sambo, (2008) viewed that chronic use of substances can cause
serious and sometimes irreversible damage to an individual physical and
psychological development. Creating
awareness to the public on the dangers of drug abuse has become one of the key
priorities in the County Government work schedule as public servants, through
this effort it is hoped that there will be reduced cases of drug and substance
abuse by a huge percentage. The report emphasized that measures had been put in
place to reduce the production and sale of illicit brews, stating that through
area advisory committees established under the County Commissioner’s office,
they have managed to disband the illicit brew dens.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Drug abuse is a
major public health problem all over the world (UNODC, 2005). The use and abuse
of drugs by individuals’ have become one of the most disturbing health related
phenomena in Nigeria and other parts of the world (NDLEA, 1997). Several
individuals’ in the society experience mental health problem, either
temporarily or for a long period of time. Some become insane, maladjusted to situations
and eventually drop out of schools.
Nigeria has experienced rapid growth of population
in recent years. Due to the rapid development, drug use has become common among
individuals in society and is even affecting their well being. Despite the worldwide
concern about the dangers of drugs, most of the individuals have limited
knowledge of how dangerous the habit is (Ngesu, 2008). For example, in some
society, many individuals/students have dropped out of school and others opted
to engage in criminal activities thus endangering the lives of the people
living in societies in Nigeria, The young generation no longer has role models
since most of the individuals are unemployed and under the influence of this
drugs. Despite the government’s concern and heightened campaigns against the
vice among individuals, there exists a parallel accelerated rate of young
youths who are illicit drug users. Although, individuals are expected to be aware
of the effects of drug abuse and commit themselves to their daily activities,
the habit still exist default of their prior expected awareness of its
consequences. Although excessive use of illicit drugs is prevalent in all
societies, individuals with no exception, Michael Shiundu (2014). This has been
established from a thorough search in the archives and libraries so as to
ascertain originality of this study.
This study therefore, seeks to establish the
correlation between poor performance and the use of drugs in societies in
Nigeria. The study will also assess the various reasons as to why individuals
abuse drugs and the various types of drugs available to the individuals’
population. Behaviour is a major aspect of life, after observing individuals’ behaviour
when under the influence of this drugs this study will recommend ways of
rehabilitating those already affected and ways of eradicating drug peddling
business going on at our societies in Nigeria. The study will also propose
policy recommendations to mainstream drug related projects to secure
individuals’ rights to daily activities and the entire young generation.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The purpose of
this research work is to investigate the influence of drugs on the
sustainability of individuals in Nigeria. Specifically, other objectives of the
study includes;
1. To determine the extents to which Alcohol Influences
individuals in Nigeria.
2. To examine the extents to which Marijuana influences
individuals in Nigeria.
3. To evaluate how Tobacco influences individuals’ in
Nigeria.
1.4 Research Question
The study will attempt to
answer the following questions:
1.
What are the
extents to which Alcohol Influences individuals in Nigeria?
2.
What are the
extents to which Marijuana influences individuals in Nigeria?
3. How does Tobacco influences individuals in Nigeria?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
H1: There
is significant Influence of Alcohol on individuals’ in Nigeria.
H2: There
is significant influence of Marijuana on individuals’ in Nigeria.
H3: There
is significant influence of Tobacco on individuals’ in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of
the study will be useful to the Community, Institutions of higher learning and
the County Government. The study will reveal the influence of major drugs on individuals
well being and in their behaviour aspects. There are many questions as to why
their young youths don’t perform as expected, the government is also looking
for explanations as to why the youth are not innovative.
The study would
help to make local government; administrators, local community as well aware of
the factors hindering the effectiveness of the approaches which attempt to curb
drug abuse and, where possible, create opportunities to eradicate the problem.
The proposed programme would be useful in educating all youths and adults in societies,
on the risks of drug consumption. Thus, this study would play an important role
in reducing, or even preventing high rates of drug use and abuse.
1.7 Scope/Limitation of the Study
This study
intends to influence of drugs on the
sustainability of individuals in Nigeria. This study will concentrate on the
determining factors that influence individuals and its outcome in society in
Nigeria, This study will examine the commonly abused drugs in society, their
cost, availability rate of consumption and various effects on individuals well
being.
2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This section consists of
review of related literature. The section covers introduction, literature on
the causes of drug abuse amongst individuals, Nature and extent of drug abuse
by individuals. Then literature is reviewed on the measures taken against drug
abuse by the individuals in local community as well as both local and county
government, effects of drugs, levels of drug and substance prevention, policies
against drug use in Nigeria and social effects of drug abuse.
2.1 Meaning of Drug
A drug refers to
a substance that could bring about a change in the biological function through
its chemical actions (Okoye, 2001). It is also considered as a substance that
modifies perceptions, cognition, mood, behaviour and general body functions
(Balogun, 2006). This could thus be considered as chemical modifiers of the
living tissues that could bring about psychological and behavioural changes
(Nnachi, 2007). Drug abuse is a major
public health problem all over the world (UNODC, 2005).
The use and abuse of drugs by individuals’ in
society have become one of the most disturbing health related phenomena in
Nigeria and other parts of the world (NDLEA, 1997). Several school going
adolescents experience mental health problem, either temporarily or for a long
period of time. Some become insane, maladjusted to school situations and
eventually drop out of school. NAFDAC, (2004) as cited by Haladu (2003)
explained the term drug abuse as excessive and persistent self-administration
of a drug without regard to the medically or culturally accepted patterns. It
could also be viewed as the use of a drug to the extent that it interferes with
the health and social function of an individual. Odejide, (2000) warned that
drug abusers who exhibit symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, behavior
changes, fatigue and loss or increase in appetite should be treated by medical
experts and conusellors to save them from deadly diseases.
2.2 Consequences of Drugs
The alarming
evidence in the prevalence of drug abuse, the effects and consequences of
substance abuse among individuals in the society has called for concern and
challenge to all helping professions to mount strategies of equipping youths
with skills of living devoid of substance abuse. In the society today, the consequences
of substance use are diverse, including acute and chronic health, social as
well as psychological problem. There is disruption of interpersonal
relationships particularly within the family, marginalization, criminal
behaviour, school failure, vocational problems and failure to achieve normal
adolescent milestones, yet these adolescents are expected to be the leaders of
the country in the future when they do not even have any focus for the future.
According to the Nigerian National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has stated that substance abuse is a major problem
in the society and schools, colleges and universities in Nigeria (NDLEA, 2013).
Many of these individuals’ behaviors are heavily tied to the peer culture, as
people learn from and imitate the peers they like and admire. Wanting to be
attractive to others becomes very important in adolescence, and this factor is
significant in the development of eating disorders, alcohol consumption,
tobacco and drug use, tanning, not practicing safe sex, and vulnerability to
injury, among other behaviour. Most intuitively, alcohol and drug consumption
may have some detrimental effects on individuals’ cognitive abilities, for
instance, by decreasing their ability to concentrate. Concerning the indirect
channels, drug and alcohol consumption may for instance be responsible for
shifting individuals’ resources away from schooling.
Additionally, it may undermine students’ progress by
making them less likely to attend classes or keep up with their studies.
Finally, psychologists argue that heavy drinking may lower individuals’
expectations (Deas et al, 2000). This effect could be driven by a shift in individuals
peers when they engage in abusive alcohol consumption. Individuals’
discourteously depend on one form of drug or the other for their various daily
activities such as social, educational, political, moral etc. such drug include
tobacco, Indian hemp, cocaine , morphine, Heroine, Alcohol, Epherdrine,
caffeine, Glue, Barbiturates etc.
Oshikoya and Alli (2006) in their studies on
perception of Drug Abuse amongst Nigerian undergraduates identified dependence
and addiction as one of the major consequence of drug abuse, characterized by
compulsive drug craving seeking behaviour, are use that persist even in the
face of negative consequences. These changes are maladaptive and inappropriate
to the social or environmental setting therefore may place the individual at
risk of harm. Experiment with drugs during adolescence (11–25) is common. At
this age, they use drugs for new things. They use drugs for many reasons
including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, or to feel grown
up. Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increase the risk of using other
drugs later.
In one of the WHO’s and the world heart foundation’s
data, posit that in Nigeria, 22.1% of school youth age between 12 to 17 years
use tobacco. Today, more Nigerian youths are becoming drug dependants, while
Nigeria gradually transits from the status of a drug-consuming nation to that
of a drug-producing one. Young ones who are mainly from well-to-do homes are
increasingly identifying with the ‘big boys’ that practice the use of substance
like heroin and cocaine. Others substances like Indian hemp, which is
frequently produced in Nigeria and other substances like Methamphetamine and
tablet with codeine capable of intoxicating are mostly found in schools (Staff,
2012). Illicit drug use is injurious to individuals
in the society. Today, there are estimated 1.5 million individuals are drug
users in Nigerian. Individuals are involved in use of illicit drugs because
they want to reduce regular pressures around them. It symbolizes a protest
against set rules, and to explore basic to self (Omage, 2005). The arrest by
police, NDLEA and the news reports revealed that illicit drug use is on the
increase. It is in this connection that this study examines the influence of
drugs on the sustainability of individuals in the society.
2.3 Negative impact of Drugs on Society
The negative consequences of drug abuse affect not only
individuals who abuse drugs but also their families and friends, various
businesses, and government resources. Although many of these effects cannot be
quantified, ONDCP recently reported that in 2002, the economic cost of drug
abuse to the United States was $180.9 billion.
The most obvious effects
of drug abuse which are manifested in the individuals who abuse drugs include;
ill health, sickness and, ultimately, death. Particularly devastating to an
abuser's health is the contraction of needle borne illnesses including
hepatitis and HIV/AIDS through injection drug use. NSDUH data indicate that in
2004 over 3.5 million individuals aged 18 and older admitted to having injected
an illicit drug during their lifetime. Individuals who abuse drugs often are
abused or neglected as a result of the individuals' preoccupation with drugs.
National-level studies have shown that parents who abuse drugs often put their
need to obtain and abuse drugs before the health and welfare of their children.
The economic consequences
of drug abuse severely burden federal, state, and local government resources
and, ultimately, the taxpayer. This effect is most evident with
methamphetamine. Clandestine methamphetamine laboratories jeopardize the safety
of citizens and adversely affect the environment. Children, law enforcement
personnel, emergency responders, and those who live at or near methamphetamine
production sites have been seriously injured or killed as a result of
methamphetamine production. Methamphetamine users often require extensive
medical treatment; some abuse, neglect, and abandon their children, adding to
social services costs; some also commit a host of other crimes including
domestic violence, assault, burglary, and identity theft.
2.4 The Consequences of Illicit Drug Use
The
consequences of illicit drug use are widespread, causing permanent physical and
emotional damage to users and negatively impacting their families, coworkers,
and many others with whom they have contact. Drug use negatively impacts a
user's health, often leading to sickness and disease. In many cases, users die
prematurely from drug overdoses or other drug-associated illnesses. Some users
are parents, whose deaths leave their children in the care of relatives or in
foster care. Drug law violations constitute a substantial proportion of
incarcerations in local, state, and federal facilities and represent the most common
arrest category.
2.5 Influence of Alcohol on
Individuals’
A large number of studies tried to identify whether there are direct
and/or indirect causal links between consumption of addictive substances and
individuals’ attainment. Most intuitively, alcohol and drug consumption may
have some detrimental effects on individuals’ cognitive abilities, for
instance, by decreasing their ability to concentrate. Concerning the indirect
channels, drug and alcohol consumption may for instance be responsible for shifting
individuals’ resources away from schooling and other activities. Additionally,
it may undermine individuals’ progress by making them less likely to attend
classes or keep up with their studies and other activities. Finally,
psychologists argue that heavy drinking may lower individuals’ expectations
about their performance Deasetal, (2000). This effect could be driven by a
shift in individuals’ peers when they engage in abusive alcohol consumption.
There is still no consensus in the literature concerning the existence of a
causal link between consumption of addictive substances and other outcomes.
Renna
(2006) finds that heavy alcohol consumption has a negative effect on the
probability of graduating from a high school rather than receiving a general
education diploma (GED). However, these results are subject to valid criticisms
since they ignore or only imperfectly control for the potential selection bias.
Some studies are not able to reject the absence of a causal effect of drugs and
alcohol consumption on individuals. For instance, many physiological studies do
not provide robust evidence on the detrimental effects of drugs Solowij,
(1998). For instance, understanding the relationship between teenage drinking
and high school grades is pertinent given the high prevalence of alcohol use
among this age cohort and recent research on adolescent brain development
suggesting that early heavy alcohol use may have negative effects on the
physical development of brain structure (Brown, Tapert, Granholm and Delis,
2000). By affecting the quality of learning, underage drinking could have an
impact on both college admissions and job quality independent of its effects on
years of schooling or school completion. Alcohol use could conceivably affect a
student’s quality of learning and academic performance regardless of its impact
on school completion. This possibility is suggested by Renna (2008), who uses a
research design similar to that used by Dee and Evans (2003) and finds that
although binge drinking does not affect high school completion rates, it does
significantly increase the probability that a student graduates with a GED
rather than a high school diploma.
2.6 Influence of Marijuana
on individuals
According to (Spooner, 2005) the social environment is a powerful
influence on health and social outcomes. In this context Marijuana use and
related problems result from the complex interplay of the individual and the
environment whereby social institutions or structures can influence the
environment in a manner that can influence drug use and related problems.
Societal structures include government policies, taxation systems, laws and
service systems such as welfare, education, health and justice. As such
increased attention to the ‘social’ determinants of drug use is required. In
terms of increasing problematic Marijuana use Wilkinson notes the rapid growth
in widening income differences during the 1980s and the rise in heroin
use. Adverse socio-economic
circumstances may lead to psychological and emotional damage partly through
increasing levels of stress brought on by money worries, unemployment and
housing but essentially through a lack of choices.
Behaviour
has been found to lead to the trying out of new experiences such as drug and
sex, sometimes with dire consequence for the adolescents. One widely accepted
definition of drugs states that drugs are compounds that, because of their
chemical structure, change the functioning of biological systems (Levinthal,
2000).The biological systems include respiration, growth, excretion,
locomotion, reproduction, etc. The effects may be beneficial as in the case
when drugs commonly referred to as medicines (e.g. Panadol, antibiotics, cough
mixture, etc.) are used as prescribed by the doctor. Some other drugs have been
found to be capable of producing effects that are not beneficial but harmful
(Oloyede, 1996). The term drug abuse, applies only to instances in which people
take drugs purely to change their moods, and in which they experience impaired
behaviour or social functioning as a result of doing so (Wallace & Fisher
2003).
Having
realized that majority of Marijuana use start during the adolescence stage
especially so for the ‘gateway’ drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, the need to
check this bad practice in the society is important. Alcohol and cigarettes are
described ‘as gateway’ because they are usually, the first drugs that are used
before other drugs are tried out (Indiana Preventive Resource Centre, 2003).
Drug abuse by individuals’ can lead to sharp decline in their performance,
increase reports of truancy and expulsion from school. It can also lead to
addiction increased desire for drugs without which normal life processes is
disturbed, and increased appetite and libido. Other vices such as stealing,
fighting and gambling may also be caused by drug abuse as a result of
alteration in the brain chemistry of the abusers. Consumption of cannabis for medical purposes
is legal with a prescription in 15 states, and many states are in the process
of decriminalizing non-medical marijuana use. More than 97.5 million Americans
and other developing countries like Nigeria over the age of 12 have used
illicit marijuana, and it is considered by many to be a benign recreational
drug. However, evidence exists of significant harm for some individuals, with 1
in 10 users developing cannabis dependence Samhsa (2007). Furthermore, sixteen
percent of all substance abuse treatment admissions in the United States were
for cannabis-related disorders; this is second only to alcohol-related
disorders Samhsa (2007). It is estimated that more than 4 million Americans
meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV diagnostic
criteria for cannabis dependence. This figure has doubled from 2001, and will
likely continue to grow. Thus, an understanding of the effects of cannabis on
executive functions is likely to be of widespread clinical relevance.
2.7 Influence of Tobacco on
individuals’
Interest in social influence on adolescent smoking has conventionally
included family influence (Tyas et al., 2001). Social influences can be
described as the processes whereby people directly or indirectly influence the
thoughts, feelings and actions of others Social influence constitutes social
norms, modelling and perceived pressure (Markham et al., 2004).
Social
norms are adolescents’ expectations of people’s reactions to specific behaviour
and the support that they experience from others in carrying out a certain type
of behaviour De Vries (2000). Modelling as a term denotes perceiving a
prevalence of smoking among influential people and ‘pressure’ denotes an
experience of direct pressure to smoke. Social influence can be direct social
norm and perceived pressure or indirect modelling Markham (2004). Recently,
contextual variables at the macro level, such as the influence of the
neighbourhood, have also been shown to affect adolescent smoking Backer (2003).
A
survey conducted by (Fatoye and Morakinyo, 1997) on substance use amongst
secondary school students in rural and urban communities in South Western
Nigeria with a sample size of 542 made up 266 males and 276 females found that
the prevalence rate of current Smoking was 13.4%. The study also found that the
prevalence rate of Tobacco use was 26.4%. And that the most commonly used
alcoholic beverage was palm wine (60.1%), followed by beer (20.8%), and then
locally fermented wine and locally distilled gin (14.7%). Numerous studies have indicated an alarming
increase in water pipe smoking (Eissenberg T., Shihadeh A, 2009). Water pipes
are known by different names depending on the region of the World, These
include, but are not limited to, hookah, narghile, arghile, shisha, and
hubble-bubble. Research has established that water pipe tobacco smoke contains
and produces toxic substances similar to those produced by cigarette smoke,
including carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic volatile aldehydes, hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide, and nicotine. (Eissenberg and Shihadeh A, 2009) reported that
a single water pipe tobacco smoking session may involve the inhalation of 50 to
100 times the smoke volume inhaled from a single cigarette.
2.8 Relationship of drugs
with crime
A generation of research has defined three major links between drugs and
crime. The first drugs/crime nexus relates to the violence that can be
associated with the use of drugs themselves: psychopharmacological crime.
v Crime committed under the
influence of drugs is a major problem worldwide. For
example, in a study in Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, as many as 55 per cent of convicted offenders
reported that they were under the influence of drugs at the time of the
offence, with 19 per cent of the same set of offenders saying that
they would still have committed the crime even if they had not been under the
influence of drugs.
v The second drugs/crime link
is economic- compulsive crime. This is the result
of drug users engaging in crime to support their drug consumption and
addiction. In the United States, for example, 17 per cent of state prisoners
and 18 per cent of federal inmates said they had committed the offence for
which they were currently serving a sentence to obtain money for drugs. In the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is estimated that
economic-compulsive crime costs approximately $20 billion a year, the vast
majority of those costs resulting from burglary, fraud and robbery.
v The third link is systemic
crime: The violence that occurs, for example, as a
result of disputes over “drug turf” or fighting among users and sellers over
deals gone awry. This has been seen, starkly, in Latin America over the past 10
years, especially in countries such as Guatemala and Mexico, but it is also
seen in the streets of every con- tinent throughout the world.
Studies
show that overall, drug-related crime is costly but varies from region to
region. A study in Australia indicated costs of $3 billion a year, and in the
United States it is estimated that drug-related crime costs $61 billion
annually. All those costs are related to burdens placed on law enforcement
agencies and the judiciary, in addition to the increased incarceration rates
resulting from behaviour related to drug use, which in the past few decades
have grown substantially in many countries.
2.9 Levels of Drug and
Substance Prevention
Primary prevention of substance abuse is preventing the initiation of
psychoactive substance use or delaying the age at which use begins (WHO, 2000:12).
This is aimed at ensuring that drug abuse will not occur. It aims at teaching
the skills for dealing with inter and intra-personal influences such as stress
and peer pressure. The objective of primary prevention is broadly to deter
experimentation, encourage or provide risk minimization within a population.
Most primary prevention programs are directed to elementary schools and
children in general because there is the realization that drug abuse is now
beginning at early ages. Primary prevention aims at emphasizing on the
realistic risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse. In order to formulate a
realistic primary prevention program the following should be considered.
The
program’s must provide knowledge on effects of drug abuse, life skills like
communication, assertiveness, decision making and coping social skills.
Secondary prevention is the intervention aimed at individuals in the early
stages of psychoactive substance use. The aim is to prevent substance abuse
from becoming a problem thereby limiting the degree of damage to the individual
(World Drug Report, 2000:109). It’s aimed at identifying a determination or
modifying for the better drug abuse at the earliest moment possible. It aims at
discontinuation of infrequent drug abuse, increasing opportunities for
intervention to prevent progression of the problem and individual at risk
rather than the entire society. This prevention can be done by instituting
early detection programs in schools, workplace and other areas where drug abuse
takes place. The prevention aims at ending dependence and minimizing problems
resulting from use/abuse. This type of prevention strives to enable the
individual to achieve and maintain improved levels of functioning and health.
Sometimes tertiary prevention is called rehabilitation and relapse prevention
(WHO, 2000:12). It’s aimed at preventing drug abuse related to death; reduce
the negative impact of an already established problem by restoring and reducing
other related complications. It also aims at relapse withdrawal of symptoms and
preventing the retaking of substances after achieving abstinence.
Theoretical Framework
The Social Developmental
Theory
The social developmental Theory developed by Hawkins and Weis, (2002),
suggests that individuals develop bonds to groups and organizations when they
experience opportunities for involvement, possess necessary skills for
involvement, and receive positive feedback regarding their involvement. Once an
individual bonds to a context they are more likely to behave according to the
group’s norms and beliefs. The Social Development Model highlights the steps to
developing programs that promote bonding and positive behavior development. The
following research to practice points provides specific programming guidelines.
Youth will tend to form groups that engage in similar activities, those using
drugs will be able to identify with each other since they are more comfortable
with the same group hence the influence will be equal in the entire group. Hawkins
and Weis (2002) proposes that drug use and deviant behaviors emerge from
interactions with the primary socialization sources--the family, the school,
and peer clusters. The theory further postulates that the individual's personal
characteristics and personality traits do not directly relate to drug use and
deviance, but, in nearly all cases, influence those outcomes only when they
affect the interactions between the individual and the primary socialization
sources.
Interpretation
of research results from the point of view of primary socialization theory
suggests the following: Characteristics such as depression, anxiety, and low
self-esteem are related to drug use and deviance only when they have strong
effects on the primary socialization process among younger children, Traits
such as anger, aggression, and sensation seeking are related to drug use and
deviance because these traits are more likely to influence the primary
socialization process at all ages, The psychopathologies that are least likely
to interfere with bonding with pro-social socialization sources, the anxieties
and most of the affective disorders, are less likely to have co-morbidity drug
dependence.
Empirical
Framework
Similar
empirical work have been carried out on this research work, they are; Muritala
et al (2015) in their study examined the impact of Substance Abuse on Academic
Performance among Adolescent Students of Colleges of Education in Kwara State,
Nigeria. The design used for the study was the survey. A sample of 150
adolescent students was randomly selected form selected departments in three
colleges of education in the State. A validated instrument, Drug Habit
Inventory (DHI, Fayombo, 1998) was used to collect relevant data and objective
tests on Educational and General Studies were also used to test academic
performance of these students. The data collected was analyzed using a t-test
to analyse the hypotheses of differences. The findings show that there is significant
difference between the academic performance and students who abuse drugs and
those who do not and there is significant gender difference among adolescent
substance abusers on the basis of academic performance. Based on the findings,
recommendations were made on campaigns against substance use should be
incorporated in health education curricula of colleges of education with
special focus on the adverse consequences of the substances used and
establishment of Counselling Centres for Drug Control: Counselling centres
should be established in every colleges of education by the government or
private individuals.
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This
section comprises of the research design, population and the samples under
consideration, the research tools and instruments, data collection methods and
data analysis. A combination of all these components will lead to the results
upon which conclusions will be made. Research methodology therefore provides a
framework under which the study is conducted.
3.1 Research Design
The
researcher adopted survey research for the study. This involves systematic
collection of information or data from population being studied. Descriptive survey design is used in
preliminary and exploratory studies to allow the researcher gather information,
summarize, present and interpret it for the purpose of clarification. It also
allows the researcher to describe record, analyse and report conditions that
exist or existed. This design will allow the researcher to generate both
numerical and descriptive data that will be used in measuring correlation
between variables
3.2 Population and Sample size
The
total population for the study will be 18,108 young youths and including adults
The Study will use Simple Random Sampling Technique to get the subjects of the
study. The survey used a sample size determined using the Sloven’s formula
Altares et al. (2003).
n = 
Where,
n = Sample Size
N= Total population (18,090)
e= margin of error (5% or 0.05)
The study will be conducted in selected Urban Areas and Rural Areas in Rivers
State. From the 18,090 individuals, the researcher will use Non Probability
snow ball sampling to select 391 individuals’ who will participate in the
study. This will form 23.5% of the target population, which is in line with
Gay’s (1992) recommendation.
3.3 Instrumentation
This
study will use questionnaires and observation guide to collect quantitative and
qualitative data required for the study. Qualitative research will consist of
detailed notation of behaviour events and contexts surrounding the event and
behaviour. The researcher will use one dimension covertly with the full
knowledge of those being observed or with only some of those being observed
aware of the observation.
3.4 Data Collection Procedure
Questionnaires
and interviews schedules designed will be used to collect primary data for the
study. All questionnaires and interview schedules will be printed and
administered by the research assistants to the respective respondents to obtain
immediate feedback. Data collected will be assembled and stored in both hard
copies and soft copies for further analysis. The data collection process is
estimated to take approximately four weeks.
3.5
Data Analysis
Once
the data after field work has been collected the researcher will edit and
counter check completion of questions in order to identify items which will not
have been appropriately responded to. Quantitative data will be coded manually,
organized, and analysed using percentages and frequencies. The results will be
presented in tabulated form for easy interpretation. From the interviews, data
will be sifted through, sorted and coded. Qualitative data generated from
questions will be organized into themes, categories and patterns pertinent to
the study. This will help identify information that will be relevant to the research
questions and objectives.
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND
ANALYSIS
This
section presents the findings of the study, their analysis and interpretation.
The section is divided into the following sections: The extent of drug abuse
among individuals, Causes of drug abuse, Commonly abused drugs by individuals and
their sources, Effects of drug abuse on individuals, Strategies used to address
drug abuse and their perceived effectiveness, Suggested strategies to help curb
drug abuse in the society.
4.1 Data
Presentation and Analysis
Gender
frequency table on the number of respondents
|
Gender
|
Frequency
|
%
|
|
Male
|
174
|
44.4%
|
|
Female
|
217
|
55.6%
|
|
TOTAL
|
391
|
100.0%
|
Analysis:
The
study was conducted among 391 individuals of which were 44.4% males and 55.6%
females.
Number
of individuals who have used drugs
|
Students’ responses N = 391
|
|||
|
Ever used drugs
|
Frequency
|
Per cent
|
Valid Per cent
|
|
Yes
|
116
|
29.6
|
29.6
|
|
No
|
275
|
70.4
|
70.4
|
|
Total
|
391
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
|
No response
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Total
|
391
|
391
|
|
The table Shows that 116 (29.6%)
of the individuals’ reported drug use other than for medicinal purposes while
275 (70.4%) reported they have never abused drugs.
Relationship between age and drug
abuse as reported by individuals
|
Have you ever used drugs other than for medical purposes
|
|||
|
Age in years
|
Yes
|
No
|
Total
|
|
18-20
|
15(25%)
|
46(75%)
|
61(100%)
|
|
21-23
|
79(29%)
|
193(71%)
|
272(100%)
|
|
24-26
|
27(58%)
|
19(42%)
|
46(100%)
|
|
No Response
|
12
|
||
|
TOTAL
|
391
|
||
|
Chi – square test
results
X2= 8.23. The probability
(chi-sq = 8.23) < 0.05, with df = 1 and at the 5% level of significance,
indicates significant dependency between age and drug abuse.
|
|||
As shown in the above table respondents’
ages ranged from 18 – 26 years, with the majority being between 21 and 23
years. A Chi-square test was also conducted on the frequencies to establish
whether a statistically significant dependency exists between drug abuse and
age. The computed Chi square value of 8.23 was greater than the tabulated value
of 5.99 at 5% level of significance and with 1 degree of freedom. This implies
that drug abuse is significantly dependent on age of respondents, and therefore
a significant relationship exists between the two variables.
The deduction is illustrated in
Table 4.3: frequencies indicate that the greatest ratio of drug abusers to
non-abusers is associated with the 24 to 26 years category, namely 27 of 46
respondents which represents a ratio of 11/8 = 1.38 or 58% of the 24 - 26 years
age category. The researcher can only speculate that the finding might be
linked to the development phase of an independent adult which is characterized
by sense of wanting to be in control and peer influence as mentioned by Paglia
(Paglia and Room, 1998). The table also shows that there are very few cases of
drug abuse in the 18 to 20 age category, namely 15 (25% of the particular
age-category). The table furthermore reveals that the proportion increased to
the 24 - 26 years category. The tendency suggests that, if individuals’ could
be made aware of the effects of drug abuse at an early enough stage, the
practice could be reduced among the youth in the society in Nigeria.
Commonly Abused Drugs
|
Drugs
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
Alcohol
|
160
|
41%
|
|
Marijuana
|
74
|
19%
|
|
Tobacco
|
63
|
16%
|
|
Khat
|
55
|
14%
|
|
Barbiturates
|
39
|
10%
|
According to the above table it
shows that not all (391) individuals’responded to the various multiple- choice
options in this question. Based on the chart, alcohol is the most frequently
abused drug with a response (41%), followed by Marijuana, (19%), tobacco,
(16%), Khat (14%) and barbiturates, (10%). The findings concerning alcohol,
khat and tobacco as the most commonly abused drugs possibly reflect the overall
current situation of drug abuse among the youth in the country (NACADA, 2004;
2007).
Individuals’ sources of drugs
|
Source
|
Yes
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
Night Clubs
|
34
|
8.7
|
|
Hospitals
|
22
|
5.6
|
|
Slum areas
|
54
|
13.8
|
|
Kiosks/small shops
|
75
|
19.2
|
|
Fellow individuals
|
177
|
45.4
|
|
Watchmen
|
29
|
7.4
|
|
TOTAL
|
391
|
100
|
According to the table, it shows
that fellow individuals’ who are peddling drugs were leading at (45.4%)
followed by kiosks/shops around the area (19.2%), Slums (low economic areas),
(13.8%), night clubs (8.7%), watchmen, (7.4%), and hospitals at (5.6%).
Influence of Marijuana Abuse on individuals
|
No. of times used
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
|
Everyday
|
22
|
29.7%
|
10
|
46%
|
|
Every week
|
38
|
51.4%
|
12
|
31.6%
|
|
In a month or more
|
14
|
18.9%
|
6
|
42.9%
|
|
Total
|
74
|
|
|
|
According to the above table 19
percent of respondents took marijuana. According to the above table 46 percent
who used marijuana daily, skipped more things, spent less time. 31.6% who used
marijuana every week spent less time while 42.9% who used marijuana once a
month only reported poor grades.
Effects
of Barbiturates on individuals’ Health
|
Effects
|
Number
|
Percentage
|
|
Moody
|
20
|
51.3%
|
|
Anxious
|
24
|
61.5%
|
|
Impulsive
|
8
|
20.5%
|
|
Restlessness
|
26
|
66.7%
|
West (2000) discovered that a
significant percentage of regular users are adversely affected in terms of
mental health; while miller, (2001) found that amphetamines increase the
availability of no adrenaline at the nerve cell connections. Also Juman (1999)
found that morphine and tranquilizers, analgesics and sedatives, may
precipitate hepatic encephalogphy, possibly as a result of increased brain
sensitivity to centrally acting drugs.
Drugs
like Indian hemp have the power to impair mental activities. It decreases the
male sex hormone called testosterone and as well as interfere with the
menstrual cycle in women Ogun-sakin (2007). Rebury (2006) enumerates the
effects of some drugs abuse as follows: Amphetamine takes away the desire to eat;
hence, some persons grow thin and become easy target for diseases. Ephedrine
makes one feel powerful but aggressive, nervous, talkative and easily excited.
The mind becomes deranged due to sleeplessness. Indeed Indian hemp causes
mental disorder, hallucination and cocaine damages the heart and cause heart
attack in human beings.
5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The focus of this study was to
propose a programme for prevention of and intervention in drug abuse among
individuals’. The findings of this empirical study will, among other things,
contribute to knowledge in this area and help both administrators and policy
makers to develop more efficient educational programmes to address drug abuse
in societies and schools.
5.1 Summary
Influence of Alcohol abuse on
individuals’
Heavy drinking has a negative
effect on the image of a society, branding it a “party.” This image may
encourage more alcohol-related problems, as it attracts individuals’ who choose
to be in high-risk environments. Given alcohol’s detrimental effect on individuals’
performance, a decrease in drinking on societies should enhance the quality daily
activities. Research suggests that the most effective way to change the
“culture of drinking is through environmental management, that is, by changing
the physical, social, legal, and economic environment on and around society that
fosters alcohol and other drugs use.
Influence of Marijuana Abuse on individuals
Like alcohol, marijuana abuse
also directly impairs academic abilities which limit individuals’ performance.
A substantial minority of individuals’ who are daily marijuana deals with
highly stigmatised forms of behaviour which can involve criminal behaviour e.g.
going against the law or when individuals engage in criminal acts to fund their
drug use. The use of addictive drugs often has adverse effects on colleagues
and the wider community for example having to share a room in society with a
smoker. The fear among individuals’ is to be arrest by police sometimes leads
to stigmatisation of marijuana smokers therefore having negative psychological
effects therefore leading to negative thinking, poor performance in academic
work and sometimes drops out of school.
Influence of Tobacco abuse on individuals
From the individuals’ responses,
it was evident that they were aware of the effects of drug abuse. Tobacco use
leads to lack of concentration on physical weakness, lack of sleep, lack of
appetite, and rejection by friends. Individuals who were interviewed also gave
the effects as lack of responsible citizens, poor health, and stealing, high
rate of school dropout, poor academic performance and personal negligence. All
these characteristics eventually lead to drop out, expulsion from school.
5.2 Conclusion
The substance use of heavy drug-using
individuals’ may directly impair abilities which limits their performance. For
most individuals’ who use drugs at a lower level, however, drug use may serve
as a maturational ‘snare’ that keeps some individuals’ engaged in deviant peer
groups as others move on to more normative groups, thus having a long-term
direct effect on educational attainment. Other studies have discussed similar
processes, in which differential pathways to problematic outcomes are
determined, in part, by the level of multiple risk behaviours.
If we believe that multiple
mechanisms are operating, then it follows that preventive interventions aimed
at improving engagement should broaden their focus beyond drug use in
adolescence. Community and family risk factors should also be targets of
intervention. The findings showed that drug use in individuals’ partially
mediated the effect of their externalizing behaviours on societies; individuals’
externalizing also had direct effects on both achievement and on degree
completion. This implies that a powerful target of intervention would be
externalizing behaviours, especially for those who have not yet developed heavy
or problematic levels of alcohol and or drug use.
5.3 Recommendations
Based upon the literature review
and the empirical investigation various recommendations for a prevention and
intervention programme are proposed to help address drug abuse among
individuals in societies in Nigeria. The following are recommendations for
effective programming to prevent and reduce drug abuse among youths and adults.
1.
Provide Alcohol-free Options: The governments should create and promote
alcohol-free events for individuals’, support clubs and organizations that are
substance-free, create and promote service learning and volunteer
opportunities, require community service work as part of the academic
curriculum and promote consumption of non-alcoholic beverages and food at
events.
2.
Restrict Alcohol Availability: Government should enforce strict
rules on alcohol and drug abuse by requiring all social events during
orientation of first years to be alcohol free, disseminate responsible host
guidelines for both on and off parties, install a responsible beverage service
program, eliminate residence hall delivery of alcohol purchases, advertise food
and activities, such as dancing or sports, rather than drinking as the focus of
the event.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my profound gratitude
to God Almighty, who gave me the grace of health, favour and above all life to
be able to carry this work to a successful end. I immensely thank the authors cited in this research
work, which have been a source of information, and have made this work a
success.
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