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Prevalence Of And Motivation For Drug Abuse
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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).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACT COMING SOON ... Continue reading---
APPENDIX A - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]UNIVERSITY OF ILORINFACULTY OF EDUCATIONCOUNSELLOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENTPrevalence of and Motivation for Drug Abuse Questionnaire (PMDAQ)Dear Respondent, This instrument is designed to elicit information on the prevalence of, and motivation for drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. Your sincere responses to each of the items will be highly appreciated as all information supplied will be treated with utmost confidentiality and be used strictly for the re ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER TWO - [ Total Page(s): 14 ]The immediate effects of smoking marijuana include increased heart rate, reddened eyes and increase feeling of well being. The hallucinogenic properties of marijuana may include enhancement of sensitivity to colour, sound patterns, texture and taste. The personal reaction time is showed and the ability to interprete what is seen takes a longer time than normal. Pollock, Candace and Charles (1979) listed the following behavioural effects of marijuana.• Marijuana impair short term me ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER THREE - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]Pilot Testing The pilot testing is used to determine the usability
of an instrument. To establish this, the instrument was administered to
ten students of the University of Ilorin, which did not form part of the
final respondents of the instrument. After administration, the
researcher interacted with the respondents, recorded their observation
about the instruments and effect necessary corrections.Psychometric Properties of the InstrumentAn instrument is considered appropriate when i ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FOUR - [ Total Page(s): 7 ]Hypothesis Three:There is no significant difference in the prevalence of drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions on the basis of age.Table 7 indicates that the calculated t-value of 1.51 is less than the critical t- value of 1.96 at 0.05 alpha level. This indicates that there is no significant difference. Hence, the hypothesis is accepted. Therefore, there is no significant difference in the prevalence of drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions on the basis of age.Hypothesi ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FIVE - [ Total Page(s): 4 ]Still on the basis of age, the hypothesis that there is significant difference in the motivation for drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions was accepted as no significant difference was found. It then indicates that respondents’ age has no influence in their motivation for drug abuse. Irrespective of their different age brackets, they tend to be motivated towards drug abuse by peer pressure, in order to work better and experiment how it works. The finding thus supports that of ... Continue reading---
REFRENCES - [ Total Page(s): 3 ]REFERENCESAaron, K., Robert, L., Reische, D., Barbara, V., Waggoner, S. & Wagger, H.(1982). Understanding health. New Jersey: Random House Visual Education Corporation. Abdullahi, O. (1995). Typology of research. In S. Jimoh (ed). Methodology: An inter disciplinary approach. Ilorin: Unilorin Library and Publication.Akindelly, B. (2009). Causes, effects and control of drug abuse in society.Retrieved July 22, 2013 from. http://www.voices.yahoo.com/causes-effects-control-drug-abuse-society. ... Continue reading---
