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Illicit Use Of Toxic Drugs Among Youths In The Fct Abuja
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The amount of harm associated with the use of these substances, is
increasing in Nigeria and other middle and low income countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa; as well as high income countries like the US (Aliyu,
2014). Although majority of the youth have a good understanding of the
consequences of substance abuse, there is still a high prevalence of
this phenomena occurring in Africa (Ekpenyong, 2012).
The reasons for
substance use among youth varied, the most common reasons are; to boost
self-confidence, to cope with stress, anxiety, to get high (euphoria)
(Dankani, 2012), to socialize, to keep awake, to try to get sleep
(Ahmed, 2012; Jibril et al., 2008; Oshodi, Aina, & Onajole, 2010),
to reduce physical and emotional pain, to experiment and to alleviate
feelings of hunger (Gaidhane et al., 2008). There are many reasons why
youth abuse substances. In many situations, substances are being used as
artificial problem-solvers such as frustrations, stress or tiredness
(Nsimba, 2010). Others choose to use substances to enjoy the feelings or
for recreational purposes (Sokro, 2010). But most of the times, youth
use substances for experiment to find out more about the sensations they
produce (Dankani, 2012; Jibril, Olayinka, Omeiza, & Babantunde,
2008).
Studies have found that, most of the youth have the perception that; peer group
(Gaidhane et al., 2008; Dankani, 2012; Jibril et al., 2008; Okwaraji, Ebigbo, & Akpala,
2009;
Mohammad, 2014) unemployment, availability and affordability of drugs
(Ahmed, 2012; Cheung & Yeung, 2007), family upbringing or background
(Okwaraji et al., 2009) and gender (Ahmadi, Tabatabaee, & Gozin,
2006; Ahmed, 2012; Oshodi et al., 2010), are the most common influencing
factors or causes of substance abuse among them.
In Ghana, substance
abuse has contributed to lower productivity and general performance of
the employees especially the youth, it also impairs employees‟ judgment
and decisions, brings about high absenteeism and high turnover rates,
occupational injuries, depression and trauma leading to excessive use of
medical benefits. The main reasons for substance abuse is because of
the belief that: it reduces stress, it modifies moods, it enhances
performance, because of social and peer pressures and also for the
purposes of socialization and fun (Sokro, 2010).
In Nigeria, a large
number of the population mostly youth buy drugs without any physician‟s
prescription (Mohammad, 2014). Substance abuse started becoming a
serious problem in Nigeria in the 1960s. During the period, various
professionals such as drivers, farmers, armed robbers, and hardened
criminals used to abuse drugs such as Marijuana (Indian hemp), Alcohol
etc. Studies have shown that, the use of drugs and other
pharmacologically active substances was a problem for several centuries
ago (Jibril, Olayinka, Omeiza, & Babantunde, 2008).
In the past,
choice of such substances was limited to those easily available in the
environment of the users, but in the present era, the use of various
types of drugs has gone beyond those produced and available in the
immediate environment (Mohammad, 2014). About 11% of the youth in
Nigeria are reliant on one form of substances or the other and this
causes a great threat to the sustainable youth development especially in
the Northern Nigeria. Substance abuse has reached an alarming stage
among adults, youth and children (Dankani, 2012).
The most commonly
abused drugs in the Northern part of Nigeria (except alcohol and
tobacco), are grouped into six classes: the opioids, sedative-hypnotics
(Sedative),
stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabis, and inhalants. The fact that Abuja
State is predominantly a Muslim state and coupled with the fact that
public sale and consumption of alcohol is completely disallowed within
the entire territory of Abuja, compels young men and women to resort to
taking other substances in order to get high (euphoria), (Ahmed, 2012;
Dankani, 2012; Jibril et al., 2008).
1.2 Statement of the problem.
Substance
abuse still remains one of the major problems in the world (Oluwale,
Olatunji, & Olufunlayo, 2011), with millions of people especially
the youth, abusing legal and illegal drugs (Jag, Glenn, Elinore, &
Ellen, 2008). According to National survey on drug use and health, about
110 million Americans aged 12 years and older (46%) used at least one
illicit drug such as amphetamines, cocaine, heroin and marijuana
(cannabis) in their life time (SAMHSA, 2013).
Substance abuse has
negative physical, psychological and social effects on individuals,
families, friends and society (Mohammad, 2014). According to Ahmad
(2012), the ill effects of substance abuse include; medical problems,
academic problems, conflicts, crime, financial problems, psychological
disorders and increase in occultism.
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