TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
Statement
of the Problem
CHAPTER
TWO
REVIEWED
OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
Concept
of Drug Abuse
Motivation for Drug Abuse
Preventive
Measures on Drug Abuse
Roles
of Counsellors in Drug Abuse Prevention, Management and Treatment
CHAPTER
THREE
METHODOLOGY
Method
of Data Analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
RESULTS
CHAPTER
FIVE
DISCUSSION,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations
Suggestions
for Further Studies
REFERENCE
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
In this contemporary world,
growth and development in medical discoveries have brought about more effective
drugs and have changed the overall health of many people. Many drugs are now
available to prevent, treat or cure diseases, injuries and medical problems
which consequently have helped millions of people live longer and healthier
lives. However, many of these drugs and other non-medical drugs are being
misused or abused by people most especially the youths. Cases of students’
involvement in drug abuse have been reported severally by Nigeria media and
this requires an urgent attention.
The United Nations (2012)
reported that about 185 million people globally over the age of 15 were
consuming drugs by the end of the 20th century. The most commonly
mentioned drugs were marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine-types stimulants (ATS),
opiates and volatile solvents (Durani, 2012). Durani, stressed also that
substance abuse touches millions of people worldwide each year. It is estimated
that about 76.3 million people struggle with alcohol use disorders contributing
to 1.8 million deaths per year.
Drugs mean chemicals that
have effect on the body, mind or behavior. In other words, drugs are substances
other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind. In
medical terms, a drug is a chemical taken in prescribed dosages to treat or
prevent illness (Wayne & Dale, 1998). In this case, drug is often referred
to as medicine, a vaccine, a tranquilizer, an antibiotic or some other medical
terms.
In most cases, people use
the term “drug” when they refer to medicine. Medicines are used to treat or
prevent diseases and other conditions. Merton (1996) stated that medicines are
usually grouped according to their effects on the body. Some of the most
commonly used types of medicines include those that prevent diseases, those
that fight infections and those that provide pain relief.
Vaccines are medicines that
prevent diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whopping cough, measles, mumps,
rubella, hepatitis B, influenza, yellow fever and many others. The type of
medicine used to fight germs is anti-biotic. It is a medicine that reduces
harmful bacteria in the body. The most commonly used and highly effective
anti-biotic is penicillin. For pain relief, Aspirin is the most widely used and
available with doctor’s prescription (Merki, 1996). Narcotics, also a pain
reliever, is so powerful that they may cause physical and psychological
dependence (Merki, 1996).
In legal terms, a drug is a
chemical that has a high possibility of being abused. People abuse drugs by
using them improperly either socially or medically. For this reason, according
to Wayne and Dale (1998), certain drugs are controlled substances. Laws
restrict or prohibit the use of controlled substances. Restricted drugs are
those sold only by prescription or only to persons of legal age. For example,
morphine can only be obtained by prescription. Alcohol and tobacco can only be
sold to persons of legal age, although, the reverse is the case these days.
Prohibited drugs cannot be prescribed by physicians or sold legally (Wayne
& Dale, 1998). Heroine is an example of a prohibited drug.
Drugs are substance that
alter physical or physiological and psychological state of mind of an
individual and the problems resulting from the use of them are not new. They
have always caused social and health problems and are all harmful substances
when improperly used. Pollock, Candace and Charles (1979) considered drug to be
any substance, other than food, that by its chemical or physical nature alters
structures or function in the living organisms. Included in this broad
definition is a variety of psychoactive drugs, medicines and substances that
many people do not usually consider to be drugs. Legal substances not usually
considered include caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, aspirin and other
over-the-counter (OTC) preparations (Pollock, Candace & Charles, 1979).
These common substances are used so frequently in our society that they are
rarely perceived as true drugs.
The World Health Organization
(2010) defined substance abuse as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive
substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Drug abuse is the arbitrary
over dependence or misuse of one particular drug with or without a prior
medical diagnosis from qualified health practitioner. The majority of Nigerian
youths ignorantly depend on one form of drug or the other for their various
daily activities, social, educational, political and moral use etc (Garwood,
2012).
The American Psychiatric
Association (2010) referred to substance abuse as maladaptive patterns of
substance use leading to clinical significant impairment or distress, as
manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12 month
period: recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role
obligations at work, school, or home; recurrent substance use in situations in
which it is physically hazardous; recurrent substance related legal problems;
continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or
interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance.
Merki (1996) stated that the
term “abuse” applies to any use of an illegal drug or any use of legal drug
when it is detrimental to health and wellbeing. Drugs that affect the brain,
alter mood and behavior are the most commonly abused drugs. Drug abuse
therefore, is a disorder that characterized by destructive patterns of using a
substance that leads to significant problems or distress.
According to United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) world report (2011), Nigeria topped the list
of countries that used illicit drugs in Africa (Garwood, 2012). Also, a report
published by the Nation Newspaper on 15/01/2012 revealed that the annual
prevalence rate in Africa for Cannabis use fluctuates roughly between 4% and
14% and it is the highest in the world. Nigeria has the highest rate of
cannabis in the region, with an estimate of more than 14%. Dr. Olive Stolpe,
UNODC representatives stated further that annual prevalence of Cocaine use in
Africa in 2009 ranged between 0.2% and 0.8%, Nigeria with a prevalence rate of
0.7% again is among the top consumers within the region. Annual prevalence for
Opiate use in Africa is estimated between 0.2 and 0.6 percent. In Nigeria, the
Opiate prevalence rate was estimated to have increased from approximately 0.6
to 0.7 percent in 2009. This follows that Nigeria would have hosted roughly
500,000 heroin users (Anafi, 2011).
Many people most especially
the youths use drugs as an escape from reality (such as unhappiness, low
performance in school, family/relationship problems). Another factor why the
youths use drugs as noted by Nicholsin (2013) is curiosity. Youngsters are
eager to experiment on how drug works as a result of what they hear from their
peers and other adults in the society that drugs make one feels good, alerted
and functioning therefore, they become abusers.
Some youths inherit drug
abuse/addiction from parents. Genetic factor just like some congenital diseases
that are inherited from the parents to children, the drug addict/habits may
also be inherited (Slideshare, 2012). Lack of knowledge about what drugs
encompass makes youngsters engage in drinking alcohol as most people do not
count it as a drug. Pollock, Candace and Charles (1979) stated that legal
substances not usually considered as drugs include caffeine, tobacco, alcohol,
aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs.
Other factors that make
youths engage in drug abuse involve, dealing with anxiety and depression, lack
of parental care, loneliness, physical pain, low self-esteem, life frustration
such as unemployment or broken homes. The easy access to these drugs and lack
of stiff penalty on the abusers are part of reasons drug abuse is prevalent
among Nigeria youths. Drug abuse does not necessarily correlate to how wealthy
or poor one is (Merki, 1996). Some argue that wealthier individuals can afford
to buy more drugs than someone living in poverty who might resort to abusing
less expensive addictive substance such as in the case of sniffing glue to
alter one’s physical and mental state. Hence, different circumstances induce
one to abuse drugs.
Youths involvement in drug abuse has been found by researchers to
have a disastrous effects on the abusers, the family and the society at large.
Odedeji (2001) observed that the use of drugs among youths has always been a
thought for concern. Maladjusted cases such as riots, indiscipline, moral
laxity and poor academic performance of youths has been linked with the
abnormal use of drugs. The health effects of drug abuse starts from the brain
of the abuser. Drug causes a surge in levels of dopamine in brain, which
trigger feelings of pleasure. The brain remembers these feelings and want them
repeatedly. Changes in brain thus interfere with one’s ability to think
clearly, exercise good judgment, control of behavior and feel normal without
drugs (Lawrence, Melinda, & Joanna, 2013). The individual may also
experience heart attack, liver cyrosis, respiratory failure, coma, which may
lead to death.
Drug abuser place a burden
on the family members as they expend on him financial and emotional support.
Abusers involve in crimes such as stealing, pilfering, assassination, armed
robbery, prostitution. According to Olatunde (2001), drug abuse is associated
with violent and anti-social behaviours, suicidal delinquency, acute psychosis
and youth wastage in Nigeria are just few examples of delinquent activities.
Further stated was that youths who abuse drugs develop mental disorders such as
anxiety, neurosis, inability to concentrate and uncomfortable sensations within
the medulla obloganta which preserved the central part of the brain. This is
not strange as there are many lunatics in the major streets because of their
dealings in India hemp, cocaine, heroin and other dangerous narcotics.
Drug abuse among youths
confers disrespect on the Nigeria image in the international world. According
to Akindelly (2009), drug abuse undermine the image of the nation. Nations that
are dealing in drugs are usually castigated among the comity of nations.
Citizen and leaders of such nations are thus treated as ‘pariah’ among their
colleagues. The nation economy also suffers as government spends huge resources
which suppose to be spent on infrastructural facilities for the citizens, in
curbing this menace. It could thus be inferred that drugs abuse have an
immediate effect on the brain and spinal cord. Long term use of these drugs can
cause psychological dependency, physical dependence and tolerance. Death can
occur when drugs are taken in doses the body cannot tolerate. Withdrawer from
certain drugs may cause convulsion, a depressed breathing rate, and even death
(Pollock, Candace and Charles, 1979).
However, law and policy have
been made by the government to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the
well-being of its citizenry particularly the youths, from the harmful effects
of dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, and to defend the
same against acts or omission, detrimental to their development and
preservation. For example, the promulgation of a decree titled Tobacco Smoking
Control Decree Number 20; which makes it an offence for any person to smoke in
a cinema hall, stadium, public offices, medical establishment, lift, school, or
nursing institution in any part of the country. It further stated that any
person who contravenes the law shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not
less than one month and not exceeding two years or both i.e fine and
imprisonment. (Osagbemi, 2000). The decree also ban the sale of tobacco
products and its advertisement on the media. That anyone found advertising
tobacco products on any media shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on
conviction to fine of not less than N5000:00. If corporate body is guilty of this
offence, every director, manager, secretary or similar officers in charge shall
be liable on conviction to a fine not less than N5000 or term not exceeding
three years of imprisonment or both (Osagbemi, 2000).
Despite laws and policies
put in place to curb the menace, substance abuse is still on increase among
Nigeria youths. In a study of five selected psychiatric hospitals, Obot and
Olaniyi (1991) showed that drug related cases have increased since 1985.
Ikwuagwu, Nafziger and Isichei (1993) also found that about 60% of substance
abusers are young persons. The study of Obot (2003) on the Dimensions and
Epidemiology of Drugs and Alcohol Consumption and Abuse in Nigeria raised an
alert on its increase among youths. This is a contemporary issue of concern for
every society that aims to attain a greater height in terms of economic,
political, cultural and educational development. Therefore, effort must be
geared towards this direction to arrest the situation.
Statement
of the Problem
Youth’s wrong notion about
drug that it gives them a different image, allows them to solve problems and
make them respond to social pressures often lead to abuse of drugs. The most
frequently abused groups of drugs are stimulants, depressants and other mood
changing drugs which have immediate effect on the brain and spinal cord. Of
which, it consistence and long term use can cause psychological dependence,
physical dependence and tolerance.
Merki (1996) noted that as a result of important
changes that teens’ bodies are going through, they indulge in alcohol drinking,
which has led to the sobering statistics:
Approximately
one third of the crimes committed by youths are related
to
alcohol consumption; Nearly 50% of all teen suicide victims had been
drinking
alcohol at the time of their death; Almost one third of all traffic
deaths
involving a person under the age of 25 are related to alcohol;
Drinking
alcohol is a leading factor in unplanned pregnancies and
sexually
transmitted diseases, because making healthy choices
is difficult
if a person is under the influence of alcohol (p. 73).
Nigerian youths have access to drugs because of its
escalation in the society and no punishment conferred on the offenders. They
take drugs in order to improve their self-esteem and self-confidence, to deal
with loneliness, cope with life frustration and to comply with peer pressure,
to pass examinations among others. This
has resulted into heath risk such as heart attack, brain damage, respiratory
failure, coma, HI/AIDs on the abusers.
Drug abuse among youngsters
affects their academic performance as they do not have time to study which
consequently may lead to drop out in school. Robbery, prostitutions, absent in
school and other delinquent behaviours has been noted. Idowu (1987) and Richard
(2002) observed that cases of robbery and indiscipline are on the high increase
among students of tertiary institutions. For instance, students under the
influence of drugs indulge in deviant activities such as rape, truancy,
destruction of school properties, breaking the school rules and regulations,
beating up teachers.
In an effort to combat drug
abuse among young ones, different organizations have sprang up both government
and non-governmental organization. One of such is Narconon Nigeria. In
November, 2009, a Narconon drug educator joined with government officials and
educators to bring a drug free message to the youths. The occasion was the
international conference against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Organized
by Narconon Nigeria, the public lecture held in Lagos brought together the
representative of Oshodi Isolo federal constituency, a lecturer from the
Department of Political science in Lagos State University, a representative of
the Dayster Christian centre and the executive director of the local Narconon
drug education and prevention office. Together, these covered public services
officials spread the message that a drug free life is the best kind of life
(Narconon Drug Information Department, 2013).
In the study by Coleman
(2010) on Drug Use and Abuse among Students in Tertiary Institutions in Federal
University of Technology where he found out that certain pre-disposing factors
such as peer pressure, sex, age, family background, occupation of parent
contributes immensely to drug abuse by the students. Oriahi, Ajekweneh and
Oriahi (2012) conducted a study on Causes and Effects of Drug Abuse Among
Secondary School Adolescents in Esan West local Government Area of Edo State,
Nigeria. The result of the study shows that the majority of students were
influenced by peer group and influence of parents on the use of drugs. Age,
gender, parental addiction also contributed to drug abuse by the youngsters.
Lastly, Raji (2012) investigated the Knowledge and Attitude of Tertiary
Institution Students in Kwara State towards drug use in Nigeria. He found out
that most respondents have knowledge of drug use but show negative attitude
towards it. Also, gender, age, religion and school type have no influence on
the respondents’ knowledge and attitude on drug use.
Despite different control
measures that had been adopted, teens are surrounded with insidious influences
that seem to encourage or condone substance abuse. In view of this, the
researcher observed that few researches have been done on prevalence of, and motivation
for drug abuse among tertiary institution students to cover Kwara state and to
focus on roles counsellors can play to salvage this social ill. Therefore, this
study aim to extend the scope of research study to the area, prevalence of, and
motivation for drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Kwara
state.
Research
Questions
The following questions were
raised based on the problem of the study.
1. How
prevalent is drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State?
2. What
is the motivation for drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State?
3. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of gender?
4. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of gender?
5. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of age?
6. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of age?
7. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of religion?
8. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of religion?
9. Is
there any difference in the expression of students of tertiary institutions in
Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of family type?
10.
Is there any difference in the
expression of students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State on the
motivation for drug abuse on the basis of family type?
Research
Hypotheses
The
following hypotheses were formulated based on the problem of the study.
1. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of
gender.
2. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of
gender.
3. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of
age.
4. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of
age.
5. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of
religion.
6. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of
religion.
7. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the prevalence of drug abuse on the basis of
family type.
8. There
is no significant difference in the expression of students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara State on the motivation for drug abuse on the basis of
family type.
Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of this
study is to find out the prevalence of, and motivation for drug abuse among
students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. Based on the
findings of the study, suggestion will be made on alternative activities that
Nigeria youths can venture their time and energy aside drugs and roles of
counsellors in preventing drug abuse among youths so that they may have a life
of purpose and be self actualized.
Significance
of the Study
Youthful age has been
characterized with great pressure from many sources such as following parent
rules, completion of school tasks, but the greatest pressure come from peers.
Most youths always want to go with the peers despite parent’s restriction from
smoking, drinking alcohol, or drug use. They do not consider or aware of the
aftermath of drug abuse before getting involved. In this regard, this study
would help the youths to understand the negative effects of drug abuse on
themselves, family and the society at large so that they may abstain from its’
use and develop resistance against pressure that may lead them to drug abuse.
Parents play significant
role in the life of children. They determine the moral tone and discipline a
child puts up. Any defect in their style of relationship or communication may
lead children to all sorts of delinquencies, drug abuse included. The findings
of this study would in this regard, be of immense benefit to the parents by
providing them with an understanding of what drug abuse is all about and
suggest to them effective communication skills instead of strict rules to
relate well with their youngsters in order to prevent them from drug abuse and
to those who are already victims in changing their maladaptive behavior for
better future.
The school also plays an ‘in
loco’ parenting role of helping youths to live a purposeful life by inculcating
in students the standard moral and educational values. Therefore, the school
administrators (principal/vice chancellor), non- teaching and teaching staff
saddled with this responsibility should understand factors that may lead to
drug abuse, its consequences and how to relate well with students in preventing
them from drug abuse. Thus, the findings of this study provide them with the
knowledge.
The school counsellor is
involved with the responsibility of helping a troubled person to feel and
behave more personally satisfying manner through interpersonal interaction and
provision of information and reactions which stimulate the clients to develop
behavior which enable him to deal more effectively with himself and his
environment. In this regard, the findings of this study would benefit
professional counsellors with the understanding of causes of drug abuse
prevalence and its effects, and with the method to deal with drug abuse ill
among Nigeria youths. The counsellors under training would also benefit from
the findings of this study as the knowledge of drug abuse counselling is rarely
provided during undergraduate training.
Among the aims of education
in Nigeria is to inculcate the right types of values and attitudes for survival
of the individual and the Nigeria society. Also, to train the mind in the
understanding of the world around and the individual to live in and contribute
to the development of his/her society. The Nigeria Ministry of Education is
saddled with the responsibility of planning and implementing programmes to
achieve these aims. Therefore, the findings of this study would help the
ministry of education at every tiers of government plan and execute programmes
that will discourage youths from abusing drugs in our various schools (from
primary to tertiary level).
All establishments and
organizations, government or non-government involved in social works would also
benefit from the findings of this study. Understanding how prevalent drug abuse
is, the cause and its deteriorating effects on the society will enable them
geared effort towards helping youths who are drug addicts already and prevent
others from getting involved.
Operational
Definition of Terms
The following terminologies
were operationally defined as used in the study:
Abuse:
Any use of a legal or illegal drug in a way that is detrimental to health.
Addiction:
Compulsive, uncontrollable, dependence on a substance, habit or practice to
such a degree that cessation causes severe emotional or psychological
reactions.
Depressants:
A category of drugs that sedate the users by slowing central
nervous system (CNS) function, they produce tolerance and strong psychological
and physical addiction in users.
Drug:
Any substance other than food that by its chemical or physical nature alters
structure or function of the living organism.
Drug
abuse: Misuse of legally approved drugs or use of prohibited
drugs and substances.
Motivation
for Drug Abuse: Reasons why or factors responsible for drug abuse
among students of tertiary institution.
Prevalence
of Drug Abuse: General existence or occurrence of drug abuse among
students of tertiary institution.
Scope
of the Study
The study is limited to the
prevalence of, and motivation for drug abuse among students of tertiary
institutions in Kwara state, Nigeria. The respondents were selected from
University, Polytechnic and College of education in Kwara state using simple
random sampling method. Only the undergraduate students of 200 level and 300
level were considered. The variables introduced to this study are gender, age, religion
and family type.
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