INCIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Nigeria is currently batting with the issue of drug trafficking, which has not only reared its ugly head in our society but also which developed into a worldwide crisis. June 26 of every year has been set aside for celebration of United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Drug abuse has led to many adverse effects, which many people are ignorant of. It disrupts relationship and human potentials. It attacks physical health, alters personalities, reduces academic performances. To crown everything up, drug abuse leads to destruction of lives and properties.

A drug can be define as any chemical solid, liquid or amorphous substances derived from plants, animals or mineral resources which is applied externally or internally to cause some descramble effects. Also, a drug can be define as a substance which by its chemical nature has an effect to open the body of higher nervous system (the mind) the effect of drug can be positive or negative.

However, drug when properly used or taken into a living organism, produces the desired result and many modify one or more of its functional parts it is usually prescribed by a medical practitioner. Such substances are either of nagetables mineral or animal origin they could be prepared for the human body that produces the desired result into the treatment of diseases and ailment. While the abuse of drug is defined as the excessive consumption of drug by an individual. Drug abuse results when there is self-infection or from the approved medical usage. Drug abuse is involved in the following; excessive use of drugs (unprescribed, drugs ), and use of hard drugs.

According to Agwusike (1990) drug abuse is the use of drugs above the prescribed dosage and for the purpose other than for the original prescription Salamatu (2019) also defined drug abuse as self-treatment of physical ailment which would result from ignorance. The society of doctors and pharmacist wormed at the uncontrollable ways and manners in which the drugs are sold to the public in our markets and medical stores which are contributory factors to drug abuse. Drugs other than those for common pain cough abuse and cold are sold in a doctor’s prescription. More so, drug abuse could be viewed from different perspectives depending on the focus under view. It could be described as a non-medical use of drug which may cause harm to the students or the society in general. In this regard, people generally misuse or abuse drugs because the substance alter the mode of behavior of an individual. Over the years, the use of hard drugs like tobacco, sedatives, Indian hemp, cocoa leaves, alcohol, cocaine to mention but a few have drastically been on the increase especially in this part of the word (Africa). The dependence or addition, which is psychological is characterized by the complication to take drugs on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its mental effect.

According to (Robins, 2010) in his book “The history of drug abuse could be traced to the urge of man wanting to have power to relieve tension, satisfy his needs obtained occasional release from problems and the need to find a cure to some ailments all those have contributed to drug use abuse and addiction. The use of drugs by man is as old as man himself. Through-out recorded history drug has been in use long before this medical and recreational intoxicating and self-induce relief from psychic pain and emotion. The early history of drug is inseparable from the early history of medicine.

According to A (Idown, 2018) “Most traditional drugs are always misused or abused because of lack of dosage to determine the quantity required by the users. the expiration period is not stated substances that are today referred to as drugs originated from herbs and other natural substances that are today referred to as drugs originated from herbs and other natural chemicals caffeine which is the main ingredient in tea or coffee and nicotine as in stimulant and tension relieving drugs. They are considered socially acceptable and used recreationally. However, they produce dependence and are also known to cause harm. Other dugs although are used medically for the treatment of one ailment or the other may also cause problems for individual. Examples of such drugs are psychoactive drugs or sedative prescribed but may be abuse thus causing addiction and harm. There are different causes of drug which include stimulant such as cocaine, tobacco or coffee, depressants such as alcohol and other substances of depressants such as heroine, morphine and opiates and the last one is hallucinogens. Further more, drug addiction, also called substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and cocaine also are considered drugs when you’re addicted you may continue using the drug despite the harm it cause. Drug and dictation can start with experiment use of a recreational drug in social situations and for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others particularly with opoids drug addiction begin with exposure to prescribed medication or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication (Richard, 2018). The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs such as opioid have a higher pain killers than others pain killers have a higher than others. As time passes you may need large dose of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go off the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense craving and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).

Most importantly, 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 among students. 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 students 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’ behaviors and by modeling they also start using drugs (Ngesu, et al 2008). 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 behavior and its effects on secondary school students whose prevalence was assessed in this study, is a worldwide problem with no exception of Nigerian secondary students. Use of drugs has led to many health problems in the youth, especially among the secondary school students. 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).

Thus, a report by United Nation Drug Control Programme (UNDCP, 1998) shows 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 behavior 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.

Wherefore, the above narrative on the abuse of drugs by secondary school students for the population of this study.

 1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Drug abuse is pandemic problem even on the increase in an alarming rate in Nigeria today. About two decades ago incidence of drug trafficking in Nigeria was low and abuse was minimal, but today drug has destroyed and killed many people in the society. Students in secondary school are the majority in this act. In view of this the research is embarked on to highlighting the incidence of drug abuse.

Over the years, it has been observed that students from some secondary schools in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo state are in a form of drug addiction or the other as well as being involved in drug abuse. This research is therefore designed to view immediate causes of drug abuse and addiction among students in some selected secondary schools in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo state.

1.3 Purpose Of The Study

The purpose of this study is to highlight the causes of drug abuse among students in some selected secondary schools in Nasarawa local government area of Kano state by random sampling thus by taking from the beginning middle and deep end of the local government. This research is conducted and to recommend appropriate solutions in the following:

a. Find the main causes of drug abuse on students.

b. Identify the factors influencing drug abuse behaviour amongst secondary schools

c. Determine the effect of the drug abuse on the students

d. To identify the strategies that could take to address the problem associated with the drug abuse among students.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

The study will tested the validity of the following hypotheses.

1)        There is no significance difference in the sociaeconomic status of students who practice drug abuse.

2)        There is no significant difference in parental influence of students who practice drug abuse.

3)        There is no  significant difference in family background of students who practice drug abuse.

4)        There is no  significant difference in academic performance of students who practice drug abuse.

1.5 Significant Of The Study

The importance of this study is to provide resource materials for many that want to have deeper knowledge about the cause, effect and control of drug abuse and addiction. This research will encourage organizations like NAFDAC, NDLEA, health organizations like WHO, SHE and government parastatals to establish drug rehabilitation centers to help victims of drug abuse and addiction. More so, the significance of this study is to outline the implications of  drug abuse amongst secondary school students.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study will examine the main causes of drug abuse on students, the factors influencing drug abuse behaviour amongst secondary schools, the effect of the drug abuse on the students and the strategies that could take to address the problem associated with the drug abuse among students. Hence the study will be delimited to secondary schools in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo state.

1.7 Limitation

There was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study may not reflect the true situation in other secondary schools in Nigeria, as the study is carried out at  Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo state.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Excessive Use of Drugs

This is when an individual takes in drug without following the current prescription of the doctor

Use of Hard Drugs

Hard drugs are capable of affecting the state of the body or mind by either depressing or stimulating the central nervures system or producing other biochemical harm to the society at large.

Stimulants

This are the kinds of drugs that stimulates the nervous system of an individual to behave extra-ordinary leading such individuals to misbehave. The health implication is that the individual is acting on the influence of a cultivating factors such as tobacco, cocaine e.t.c. common incidence that happen around us today is on the influence of those stimulants and if care is not taken could lead to mental disorder.