ABSTRACT
The aim of this study
was to investigate the causes and effects of alcoholism among the youths a case study of jigawa state. The study was guided by the research objectives which were;
to identify the causes and effects of alcoholism among the youths, to find out the measures that can be initiated to deal with
the problem of alcoholism among the youths. The study will be of great significance as
the effort to address alcoholism is the key for the community development. The study
will cover all youths of
jigawa state and the
information that will be acquired will
facilitate the understanding of the causes of alcoholism. The study
involved the literature review
that showed the patterns of alcoholism in the World, in Africa
and
in Nigeria. The theories that spearheaded the
issue of alcoholism like; the
Deviant and Social-
Disorganization perspectives were also used. The study
site
was Jigawa a state
Nigeria and the adopted research design was the descriptive
survey. twenty
(20) respondents and ten (10) key informants were used for the study. The provision of information was through the
Questionnaire and Interview methods. The research found
that the factors leading
to excessive alcohol
consumption among the youths in the study area included;
peer influence, unemployment, desire to reduce stress, and media
influence. The effects of alcohol consumption to the youths according to the study
findings were; school dropout, increased thefts, loss of jobs, committing
suicide, wastage of money, increased stress, poor coordination, slurred speech, destruction of
reproductive
system, damage of; the brain, liver, kidney, and breast, contraction of HIV, and death. In relation to the measures used to address the problems
of alcoholism, the research established that, both the Community and the Government measures were employed. In conclusion, the research pointed out that, excessive alcohol consumption has more negative effects as compared to the positive effects. Due to this therefore, the research spearheaded on the issue of exerting more efforts by the Community members and the Government. Apart from the efforts made by the community members and the
Government, the research recommended that the County
Government of Nigeria and the
National Government should come up with policies to establish
more Agricultural projects that could employ youths, train the village elders and the
chiefs
on the
best ways
of dealing with alcoholism, and also to come up with more rehabilitation centers. The roles of rehabilitation centers in dealing with excessive alcohol consumption are to be considered
for further attitudes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION AND APPROVAL.............................................................................. ii DEDICATIONS ............................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... v LIST
OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ x LIST
OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................
xi LIST OF BOXES ............................................................................................................ xii LIST
OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. xiii
CHAPTER
ONE ............................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background
of the study ........................................................................................... 1
1.2
Statement
of the problem .......................................................................................... 2
1.3
Broad
objective .........................................................................................................
2
1.3.1
Specific objectives .......................................................................................................... 2
1.3.2
Research questions ......................................................................................................... 3
1.4
Justification
of the study ........................................................................................... 3
1.5
Significance of the
study........................................................................................... 3
1.6
Scope of the
study ..................................................................................................... 4
1.7 Limitation
of the study .............................................................................................. 4
1.8
Definitions of terms .................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO
.............................................................................................................. 7
LITERATURE REVIEW
AND THEORETICAL FRAME
WORK .......................... 7
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 7
2.2
Patterns
of alcohol consumption ............................................................................... 7
2.3
Effects of alcoholism to the youths........................................................................... 9
2.3.1
Contracting diseases .......................................................................................................
9
2.3.2
Increase suicidal behaviors ............................................................................................. 9
2.3.3
Contribute to increased school dropout .......................................................................... 9
2.3.4
Destruction
of
the reproduction
system.......................................................................... 9
2.3.5
Road accidents.............................................................................................................. 10
2.4
Measures to deal with
alcoholism ........................................................................... 10
2.4.1
Controlling alcohol advertising and promotion ............................................................ 10
2.4.2
Increasing alcohol prices .............................................................................................. 10
2.4.3
Governance Responsibility........................................................................................... 10
2.4.4
Provision of better education ........................................................................................ 11
2.4.5 The
Liquor License Act ................................................................................................ 11
2.5
Theoretical framework ............................................................................................ 12
2.5.1
Deviance
theories ......................................................................................................... 12
2.5.1.1
Durkheim’s Deviance Theory ................................................................................... 12
2.5.1.2
Differential-association theory .................................................................................. 13
2.5.2
Social Disorganization
theory ...................................................................................... 14
2.6
Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................... 15
CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................
17
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................. 17
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 17
3.2
site of the study .......................................................................................................
17
3.3
Research Design...................................................................................................... 17
3.4
Target
population .................................................................................................... 17
3.5
The sampling procedure.......................................................................................... 18
3.6
Research tools ......................................................................................................... 18
3.7
Pilot
study ............................................................................................................... 18
3.8
Reliability and validity of the research
instruments ............................................... 19
3.8.1
Reliability of the
research instruments ......................................................................... 19
3.8.2 Validity of the research instruments ............................................................................. 19
3.9
Data collection ........................................................................................................
19
3.9.1
Primary
methods
of
data collection .............................................................................. 19
3.9.2
Secondary methods of
data collection .......................................................................... 20
3.10
Data
analysis.................................................................................................................. 20
3.11
Ethical considerations.................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER FOUR........................................................................................................... 21
FINDINGS, PRESENTANTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS
........................................... 21
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 21
4.2
Response rate .......................................................................................................... 21
4.3
Preliminary information .......................................................................................... 21
4.3.1
Gender of the respondent.............................................................................................. 21
4.3.2
Age
of the
respondents ................................................................................................. 22
4.3.3
Educational level .......................................................................................................... 23
4.3.4
Occupational status of the
respondents ........................................................................
24
4.3.5
Marital status........................................................................................................
25
4.3.6
Religion ........................................................................................................................ 25
4.4
Factors leading to
high alcohol consumption among the youths
............................ 26
4.4.1
Peer
influence ............................................................................................................... 26
4.4.2
Unemployment ............................................................................................................. 27
4.4.3
Desire to reduce stress .................................................................................................. 28
4.4.4
Media
influence ............................................................................................................ 28
4.5
Rating the factors that
leads
to high alcohol consumption among the youths ........ 29
4.5
Effects of alcoholism on the youths
........................................................................
30
4.5.1
School dropout.............................................................................................................. 30
4.5.2
Increased theft .............................................................................................................. 31
4.5.3
Loss of jobs................................................................................................................... 31
4.5.4
Committing suicide ...................................................................................................... 32
4.5.5
Death ............................................................................................................................ 32
4.6
Rating the effects of alcohol consumption among the youths
................................ 33
4.6.1
Wastage
of money ........................................................................................................
33
4.6.2
Effects
of
key life areas of the youths such
as;
roles, income
and social networks...... 34
4.6.3
Youths
suffer from stress, poor coordination and slurred speech due
to alcohol
consumption .......................................................................................................................... 34
4.6.4
Many
youths became less productive and loss
their jobs due to
alcohol consumption 34
4.6.5 The
problem of being unable
to
build strong friendship, becoming reckless and
more
aggressive due to excessive
alcohol consumption................................................................. 34
4.7
Effects of alcohol consumption
on the health of the youths ................................... 35
4.7.1
Destruction
of
testicles in
men and reproductive system in women due
to alcohol consumption .......................................................................................................................... 35
4.7.2 The
damaging of different body parts like; the
brain, liver,
kidney,
and breast due to
alcohol consumption.............................................................................................................. 36
4.7.3
Little alcohol consumption
is
advisable for good
health .............................................. 36
4.7.4
Poor coordination, slurred speech, and incorrect judgment occur due to excessive
alcohol consumption.............................................................................................................. 37
4.7.5
HIV contraction
due to
alcohol consumption ............................................................... 37
4.8
Rating the measures used by the Community members
to deal with the problem of alcoholism ..................................................................................................................... 38
4.8.1
Battle
against the production
of
local alcoholic drinks ................................................ 38
4.8.2
Prohibition
of
clubs and bars to operate
during hours
not
stipulated
in
their licenses . 39
4.8.3 Thefts and immorality due
to alcohol consumption are
battled
by the community
members ................................................................................................................................ 39
4.8.4 The attitudes
and
perceptions change
is a responsibility of all community
members .. 40
4.9
Government measures
used to deal with alcoholism .............................................. 40
4.10
Discussions ........................................................................................................... 41
CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................ 43
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS ................................. 43
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 43
5.2
Summary of the findings......................................................................................... 43
5.3
Theoretical Conclusions.......................................................................................... 44
5.3.1
Durkheim’s
Deviance Theory ...................................................................................... 44
5.3.2
Differential-association theory ..................................................................................... 44
5.3.3
Social Disorganization
theory ...................................................................................... 45
5.4
Empirical Conclusions ............................................................................................ 46
5.5
Recommendations ................................................................................................... 46
5.5.1
Recommendations for policy formulation .................................................................... 46
5.5.2
Recommendations for further studies ........................................................................... 47
REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 48
APPENDICIES ............................................................................................................... 50
Appendix I: Letter of Introduction ............................................................................... 50
Appendix II:
Questionnaire ........................................................................................... 51
Appendix III:
A Focus
Group Discussion Guide on the Problem of Alcoholism...... 56
Appendix IV: Research Budget ..................................................................................... 57
Appendix V:
Work plan ................................................................................................. 58
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Alcoholism
is a chronic disease caused by compulsive and
uncontrollable consumption of alcoholic beverages. The alcohol use has a long history since the time of Egyptian
civilization. Fermented grain, fruit juice and honey
have been used to make alcohol
for thousands of years. In china, the evidence of early alcoholic drink was around 7000B.C. In India, an alcoholic beverage called Sura, distilled from rice, was in use between 3000
to 2000 BC, the Babylonians worshiped
a wine goddess as early
as
2700B.C. In Greece, one
of the first alcoholic beverage
which was
popular was
Mead. However,
the Americans are not left out as one of the people who consumed alcohol long ago in the Pre-Columbian times. The use of alcohol in America faced a challenge
in form of prohibition.
This
was according to the report
of
the
United
States
law (1920)
but
however, the restrictions came
to an end, United States law
(1933). From the above
content, it is clearly shown that, the problems associated with alcoholism are not current
issues
but have their roots long time ago.
In our societies, the use of alcohol have widely spread and this is contributed by
factors like; the genetic factors
and others
which
are; easy accessibility
of alcohol,
peer
influence, and the
need to experiment. In relation to the
alcoholic causes, a research was conducted in the University
of Granada, Spain by
Jose Rico Irles (2007). The research revealed that,” the lack of endorphin is hereditary
and
thus that there is a genetic
predisposition to became addicted to alcohol”. This is absolutely true because, parents who
are addicted to alcoholism have a high tendency of having children who will suffer
from the same problem (alcoholism).The
use of alcohol lead to health and social
consequences, both acute (like;
traffic death) and chronic (like; alcohol dependence,). In
line
with the consequences associated with alcoholism, many authors
struggled to curb the problem. Among the authors was Pamela Hyde (2005), an Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association AMHSA) administrator, who applied much of her energy towards curbing
alcoholism. Hyde said,
“Underage drinking should not be a normal part of growing up. It is a serious and persistent public health problem that puts our young
people and our community in danger. Even though drinking is often glamorized, the truth
is that, underage drinking
can
lead to poor academic performance, sexual assault, injury and even death”. Dorothy Parker
(1893-1967)
is another
author who was credited
for
her struggle against
alcoholism. Parker was quoted saying, “Not much fun”, after being asked by a bartender,
what are you having? This happened on one New York speak easy
that Dorothy frequented. Of cause, many drunkards behave in a funny way
after taking alcohol but this
does not qualify alcohol to cause fun in our lives. The things that alcohol can simple
contribute to peoples’ lives
are
the increased problems.
The best thing is to fight the problem through the empowerment of people (youths) in order for them to take full control of their lives. This research aims at accomplishing this
objective (empowerment of people) through the use of questionnaires and interviews in the collection of
relevant information
from the youths of Roka location and then
come up with the measures
of alleviating
the problem.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Many youths of jigawa
a state in Nigeria use alcohol and this contribute
to the problems
that they face which include; increased Gender Based Violence (like rape),
school dropout, psychological disorders (like stress and memory loss), contraction of
HIV
and AIDs, loss of jobs, damage of the
brain and even
death.
Therefore, the aim of this research is to find out the causes of alcoholism among the youths of
in jigawa state Nigeria, the effects (on the youths)
and
the appropriate measures that can be initiated to alleviate this problem in the society.
1.3 Broad objective
The broad objective is to conduct a study on the effects of alcoholism among the youths of
Jigawa State Nigeria.
1.3.1 Specific objectives
i.
To identify the causes
of alcoholism among the youths of Jigawa state Nigeria.
ii.
To analyze the effects of alcoholism among the youths
of Jigawa State Nigeria.
iii. To find out the appropriate measures that can be initiated to deal with the problem of
alcoholism among the youths
of Jigawa State Nigeria.
1.3.2 Research questions
i. What are the causes of
alcoholism among the youths
of Roka Location?
ii. How has the problem
of alcoholism affected the youths
of Jigawa state?
iii. What measures needs to be initiated to address the problem of alcoholism among the youths
of Jigawa State?
1.4 Justification of the Study
Alcoholism is a problem in
Jigawa State among the youths.
Many youths are not
committed to their jobs and due to the fact that, they are at their most productive ages, this poses a great problem towards the development of the society. The few youths who
are
committed to their jobs also end up wasting much of their money in purchasing alcohol instead of investing
for
their future. The business men at Roka location invest in
alcohol related businesses and they
mostly
target the youths.
The businesses dealing with
alcohol that flood the community
contribute largely to the problems that face the youths like; school dropout, contraction of HIV and AIDs, and increased Gender
Based Violence
(like rape).
For the above reasons therefore, alcoholism act as a crisis that needs to be addressed
through the identification
of the contributing factors, the effects and the
possible measures that could be initiated to address the pathology. The problem (alcoholism)
needs to be solved first as it largely affects the youths and even the whole community
of Roka location.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The research on alcoholism is of great importance to the members of Jigawa state as the community
will experience positive outcomes which may include; physical benefits(the good health
of the
members), economic development, as
members, especially
the youths will invest in different businesses, and the social development, this
will be experienced through the good interaction
among community members.
To
the Government, the research
will facilitate
the process of provision of Social Services
like; rehabilitation services and referral services to the youths of Jigawa State who are
suffering from alcoholism. The Government may also use this research to budget for the
Whole exercise of public change and this will be achieved through the department of Public Administration
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study will focus on
Jigawa state only. The youths of jigawa
state will be the main participants
in this research and
the provision of the necessary information will
be through the use of interview and questionnaire methods. The areas where youths
take alcohol (like; clubs and bars) will be visited.
The cause, effects and possible measures to deal
with the problem of alcoholism will also be covered
in this study.
1.7 Limitation of the study
The study was limited by some
factors which include;
The issue of ignorance: Many
respondents were not willing to cooperate and provide the
necessary information due to ignorance. They were unable to understand the benefits of dealing with the problem of alcoholism.
The issue of confidentiality: Though
many youths of
jigwa state are addicted to alcoholic drinks, some were unwilling to share their stories due to fear that their information
will be exposed.
1.8
Definitions
of
terms
Alcohol: refers to drinks
such as
bear
and wine that can make
people drunk. Alcoholic drinks are made from fruits,
sap of trees or even from
seeds like rice
(McGovern
et al, 2005).
Alcoholism: the
medical condition caused
by drinking too much
alcohol regularly. As a medical condition, alcoholism
is associated with problems
like; miscarriage and premature birth (Kehoe,
2010).
Gender Based Violence (GBV): is the general term used to capture violence that occur
as a result
of
normative role expectations
associated
with each gender, along with the unequal power
relationship between the two
genders,
within the context of a Specific
society (Bloom,
2008).
HIV and AIDs: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) is a viral
that
attack the immune System.
The virus cause the
Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome which include a
set of symptoms
and illnesses that occurs at the
very
final stage of HIV infection .Research conducted by
the World Health Organization
showed that, Africa leads in the world with a large number of people infected with the disease(WHO,2016).
Psychological disorders:
these are patterns
of behavioral or psychological symptoms
that
impact
multiple areas
of life.
These disorders create
distress for the person
experiencing them. Examples of Psychological disorders
are; depression
(state of the mind Producing serious, long term lowering
of enjoyment of life), Anxiety disorder (including
panic disorder, social anxiety and
Post
traumatic stress), and Schizophrenia
(is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease) (German E. 1999)
Social services: Jane Addams
(1860) was the founder
of Social Services
in the United States (he came
up with the Settlement House
Movement). These services include the
benefits and facilities
such as education, food
Subsidies healthcare,
job training and subsidized
housing,
adoption, Community management, policy research and lobbying.
Youth: The
quality or state of being
young. The youths are
characterized by
freshness, Vigor and Spirit (Furlong
Andy,
2013)
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