CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Most of the unpleasant youths activities, which surfaces all countries in the world, are precipitated by the use of harmful drugs and alcohol, (Center for Disease Control, 2012). The rate at which people use drugs are so serious to an extent that they have been a source of concern to the government and international organizations such as World Health Organization, United National International children Emergency Fund (WHO, UNICEF, 2012). WHO (2013) reported that about 85% of young adults in the United States use drugs, an average 1.5 million are being treated for drug abuse everyday.

In addition, up to fifty percent (50%) of American men have problems that are caused by drug abuse (WHO, 2013). The impact of drug among adolescents has been a hall mark of morally bankrupt, decedent, wasted generations, loss of our societal values and ideals. The prevalence rate of drugs particularly among youths in Secondary Schools is one that increases day by day affecting the carrier of our growing generation and unborn ones, National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA, 2010).

According to the United States of America reports on drugs usage (2009) states that drug abuse is tearing apart our societies such that crime is increasing disease

such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes (HIV/AIDS) is spreading fast and killing our youths and our future. Studies have shown that Nigerian Youths generally depend on one form of drug or the other for their various social, political, educational and psychological activities. The drugs that are commonly used include Indian Hemp, Tobacco, Alcohol, Benelyn, Petrol and Glue, Diazepam (Johnson, 2012).

A research conducted by UNICEF (2010) revealed that people between the ages of 15 – 30 years are highly vulnerable probably because of the peer group influence. They use drugs for many reasons including curiosity to clam them down and in the events of stress or failure (examination failure) tobacco and alcohol use of young ages increases the use of other drugs later leading to drug abuse and dependence (UNICEF, 2013). The prevalence rate of drug abuse in Nigeria showed 22.1% of school youth aged between 13 and 17 years use tobacco, in South Africa, it is 19.1%, in Ghana 15.1% and in Kenya 16.2%, World Health Organization (WHO, 2011).

Recently, drug abuse among adolescents in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State is something of concern. There are problems accruing within the local government area, which are primarily caused as a result of negligence in the society at large and monitoring the conducts of their children, whom have found their ways into this illicit act. These negligence ranges from some parents who have failed in their responsibility to train their children in the right direction. Their functions are becoming meaningless to these groups of children and they have nothing to contribute to the well-being of the society.

Although, opinion differs on the use of drug by adolescents, some youths do experiment and stop or continue to use drugs occasionally without significant problems. While others develop addiction (dependence) moving on more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and society at large (Jerold and Austy, 2009). Yet, drug abuse is too devastating and very shameful to the extent that both nations and International Organizations all over the world are worried about the spread of this scourge amongst adolescents. Despite the efforts of Nigerian Government to curtail and stop the trafficking and circulation of dangerous drugs through agencies like National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), youths and young adults continuously being engaged in the use of more dangerous drugs to enhance their performance (Madaki, 2012).

Due to the reasons given above, the researcher therefore intends to conduct the research on the curbing the incidence of drugs and substance abuse among the adolescents in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

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