1.1 Introduction
Alcohol use and abuse is a serious problem among young people. There are a number of unhealthy risks associated with it, including alcohol dependence, and alcohol related accidents and violence. There are many factors that contribute to the influence of drug abuse or drug addiction among the Nigerian youths, namely peer groups, parental background (broken home), and emotional stress among others. Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problem, including, academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society. In fact, the most likely cause of death for a 16 year old is alcohol related.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Alcohol abuse in the institutions of higher learning in Nigeria threatens the achievement of vision 2030 and holistic wellbeing (GOK, 2012). According to NACADA (2007), the practice of alcohol abuse has developed to a point where it has become a culture and tradition rooted in every level of university environment and that practice is handed down through cohorts of alcohol abusers strengthen students' expectation that alcohol is a necessary factor for social success. Hagembe & Simiyu (2006) indicated that in Nigeria, the society does not take alcohol abuse as a major problem in spite of the fact that many people suffer from conditions associated with alcohol abuse.
The sociological implications of drug abuse among the Nigerian youth have been a major threat to the peaceful co-existence of all and sundry in our contemporary society, thereby destroying the socio-political dignity, personality and integrity of dependence on life. The various consequences of the drug abuse or drug addiction are so devastating and very shameful to the extent that both the national and international organizations all over the world are also worried about the spread of this scourge among the Nigerian youths.
The widespread of this problem resulted in the creation of NACADA by the government of Nigeria which formed a policy to manage the problem. This may not be achieved very soon considering the porous boundary that Nigeria has and the Police officers who are prone to corruption and can easily be bribed for illicit brew and contra band drugs which slip under their watch. Despite the growing problems of alcohol abuse more broad studies with organized approaches in the world, needs to be revised to produce representative results on socio-demographic factors associated with alcohol abuse in university settings.
The various consequences of the drug abuse or drug addiction are so devastating and very shameful to the extent that both the national and international organizations all over the world are also worried about the spread of this scourge among the Nigerian youths. This deviant behavior happen the breeding ground for other social vices as follows: social violence among youths, armed robbery, mental disorders, 419 syndrome, social miscreants (Area boys and girls), lawlessness among youth, lack of respect for elders, rape, and many more of the social evils.
In the higher institutions of learning, binge drinking has become another social norm. Binge drinking is the habit of having five or more drinks in a row, which could have serious health risks. Although, binge drinking levels are lower than they were in the 1980s, there is still a significant minority of youth who are engaging in this risky behavior. Binge drinking levels increase throughout adolescence and peak at ages 18-22. More than three-fourths of youth age 12-17 are not regular drinkers. It is very encouraging that despite some sensational headlines d tragic incidents related to alcohol use and abuse, data from the past two decades show a continuing trend of decreasing youth alcohol use.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Drug and Alcoholic Abuse among the Youths.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the problems of the Drug and Alcoholic Abuse among the Youths research work which includes:
- The cultural and religious dimension of drugs and alcohol abuse by youths in Agege Local Government in Lagos State.
- The socio-economic constraints.
- Efforts towards the rehabilitation of drug addicts and their eventual reintegration into the society.
In the course of our daily lives, people use normative schemes available to them and make judgments regarding the desirability or undesirability of this or that behavior. They then translate their judgments into favourable or unfavourable consequences of those who engage in the behavior. In this sense, deviance is what people say it is. From the foregoing, it is evident that the larger society frowns at alcohol and drug abuse by the youths.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to assess the Drug and Alcoholic Abuse among the Youths. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the causes of deviant behavior as exhibited by the youths.
- To investigate the causes of cultural and religious barriers to youths deviant behavior in the society.
- To assess the government attitude towards availability, distribution and access of controlled drugs by the youths.
- To advance solutions to the problems of drugs and alcoholic abuse among the youths.
- To contribute new facts and knowledge to academic field.
- The consequences of the activities to the general public.
- To eradicate and clean up the problem of drug abuse and youth drinking using Intervention methods.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does media awareness enhance the need for proper control of drugs in our society?
- In what ways has both cultural and religious barriers inhibited access to media awareness in controlling youth’s behavior, promotion of responsive drinking?
- Has parental background had a major role to play in correcting the “plague” of drug abuse among the Nigerian youths?
- To what extent does the implementation of health policy, the problems and argument impact media awareness to the people living in Agege Local Government Area?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H01: There is no significant factor militating deviant behavior as exhibited by the youths.
- H02: There are no significant solutions to the problems of drugs and alcoholic abuse among the youths.
- H03: There is no significant combined contribution of parental use, age and peer influence on youth's use of alcohol and other substances
1.7 Significance of Study
Numerous studies have been carried out on the abuse of drugs and youth drinking, binge drinking, substance abuse like marijuana, cigarettes smoking, etc. but few took the issue of drugs and alcoholic abuse by the youths into consideration as a major social problem directly involving and affecting the lives and development of the youths in general, with visible negative effects on the society as well.
The few that dwelled on this topic could be found wanting in some aspects especially as it affects youth development. Hence, the significance of the research is first to understand the reasons for the persistence use of drugs and alcoholic abuse among the youths, their motivations, and to formulate better ways to deal with this social problem and re-integrate them back into civil society. Thus, the study will he of theoretical relevance to the res archers, scholars, and academics that would want to carry out research or further research on this topic or similar topics in future.
This study will be available for criticisms and analysis and may also serve as a platform for further postulations or as a source of reference materials. Practically, this study will serve as a tool to assist both Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Policy makers etc, in effecting positive changes in issues concerning the youths.
Being a topical issue, Agege in Lagos State will be examined closely for the purpose of this study and references will also be made to certain peculiar situations in some other cities in Nigeria. The study will provide useful information to the authorities on the best approach to curb this social menace.
Lastly, through this study, suggestion will be made which will add to the wealth of experience existing in the academic field.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Drug and Alcoholic Abuse among the Youths. The research is limited to Youths in Agege Local Government Area in Lagos State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Abuse: Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression.
Youth: Youth is the time of life when one is young, and often means the time between childhood and adulthood. It is also defined as "the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young".
