1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
This research targets the implication of drug abuse in higher institution in Nigeria . A case study of imo state university, Owerri.
Nigeria has big problems, one of which is that of serious social and economic implication for the society. Nigeria youths constitute not just the high risk group but also the bulk of Nigeria's army of drug addicts. Studies indicate that a higher percentage of our youths within the age range of eighteen (18) and twenty eight (28) years have tied out drug on the other . a high percentage of those admitted of mental related problems also come from the same group. The drug epidemic is thus gradually eroding the manpower base and future of Nigeria.
In 1984, the Yaba psychiatric Hospital treated ,234 patients and in 1987m, the figure climbed to 12,587 and in 1985, the figure also climbed to 47,725 between January march 1989. It increased to 70,316. But these seem to be just the tip of the iceberg as culling addicts still roam our streets federal by drugs from the various drug joints that now litter our streets.
Drug abuse is one type of deviant behaviour that was previously exclusively associated with the western societies. Before the eighties, this problem has been in existence but today the footage has turned into a frightening reality, a moister that has best ridden our country like a leach and reuse to let go while gradually spreading its tentaclces.
Drug abuse is not just about the creative with a vacant look in its fast blinking eyes, a twittering body and an actered mind but its is about the student who cannot read without taking unsweetened coffee, kolanut or pills. It is about the filter lover who turns to the bottle of salvation, the business executive who must smoke to be able to work, the retrenched worker who floods his veins with “smack” to forget his sorrows and adventures party goes who ties a shift to get a kick because others are doing it.
Thus drug abuse is not just about mislaying drugs but the habit involves in the use of any chemical substance that has an effect on the body and they include smack, gbana heroine, cocaine, white girl, call it whatever name you like. Drug abuse is a fatal past time Nigerians have decided to indulge in and does the county have to show for it.
Nigerians have just woken up from the menance of drug abuse which is like a nightmare that refuses to go away. Drug abuse is not a recent phenomenon in Nigeria, it started in the late 1960s where the use of Indian hemp (cannabis) as a stimulant became widespread and what followed was a graded upsurge in the use of hemp by the higher institutions in Nigerians.
In the eighties Nigerians was just a transit point for hard drug from the golden triangle of Asia the capital of Europe and United States. Soon drug trafficking began to increase at a geometric rate. Nigerians lined by Filthy Lune, they stood to make from the illicit business joined the growing army of drug couriers in droves.
As the menance of drugs grew wide, the government woke up to the dangers of the trade if left unchecked. Nigerians and the people carrying Nigerian passports started getting nodded and the prisous of Brazil, Saudi Anabia, United States, Brittan and Germany became filtted to the brim with Nigerian involved in the business forum. They become a fonce to be neckoned within 8500 billion per annum world drug circuit.
1.2 Statement of Problem
On the afternoon of April 10,1985, the normally serne atmosphere at Nigerian's maximum Kirikini prison was shattered by the sound of continuous gun fire. At the end of it, the bodies of three young Nigerians namely Barthlonew Owoh, Bernard Ogedenge and lawal Akauni dangled at grotesque angles from the stakes at the prision's fining range. The three became the first victims of Nigerian government's attempt to seriously tackle the drug problem, the victims of a retroactive law that prescribed death for drug trafficking and which were then gradually creeping like a night maninder into out society.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study is to access the social implication of drug abuse in higher institution in Nigeria. A case study of imo state university. The objectives of the study is as follows:
- Considering that through their agenda setting and surveillance role, the social implications becomes crucial.
- To determine the social implication of drug abuse in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
- To determine the extent of damage cause by these drugs to Nigeria youths.
- How to curb the intake of the drugs.
- Public policy on the drug scourge is vital because it partly shows that societies response to problem that has become a mosquito in the net.
1.4 Research Questions
- What are the surveillance role and the social implications of drugs in Nigeria institution of higher learning?
- What are the social implication of drug abuse in tertiary institutions in Nigeria?
- What are the extent of damage caused by these drugs to Nigeria youths?
- How can these damages and bad habits be curbed?
- What are public policy on this ill health?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The decision to study on social implications of drug abuse in Nigeria higher institutions was spurred by two incidents.
It is worthwhile that the researcher highlights the significance or importance of this study to the growth of the nation.
This research will therefore be useful to our country Nigeria, business organizations, managers' entrepreneurs and students / scholars to the students are as follows:
- This text will give additional information to students who will come across it in the area of drug trafficking.
- This research work will give the students about the implications of drug abuse.
- It will act as a guide to them in future, especially students that will find themselves in the field of management or the future counselors.
- It will also help the students to know the basic means of eradicating drugs in their institutions.
1.6 Scope / Delimitation of the Study
Imo state university is one of the largest universities in Nigeria
This research is therefore aimed at studying the breadth and depth of drug abuse in Nigerian at strald the following departments. In each departments the researcher will study the students and their habit towards drugs.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Consequently, before the actualization or conclusion of set of work or activity, there many be some challenges that may arise during the process or course of the work.
The researcher encountered series of constraints during the period of the research. These constraints made the research work not to be easy as earlier thought. Some of these constraints are, time factor, fiancé and the process of retrieval of information.
There was no adequate or enough time that would prompt or enable the researcher to travel or visit all the areas that the Nigerian bolting company operates. Financial incapacitated also contributed or acted as a constraint, this is because some of the materials needed were unreachable as a result of lack of fund.
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