-
Prevalence Of And Motivation For Drug Abuse
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 6]
Page 2 of 6
-
-
-
The American Psychiatric Association (2010) referred to substance abuse as maladaptive patterns of substance use leading to clinical significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12 month period: recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home; recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous; recurrent substance related legal problems; continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance.
Merki (1996) stated that the term “abuse†applies to any use of an illegal drug or any use of legal drug when it is detrimental to health and wellbeing. Drugs that affect the brain, alter mood and behavior are the most commonly abused drugs. Drug abuse therefore, is a disorder that characterized by destructive patterns of using a substance that leads to significant problems or distress.
According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) world report (2011), Nigeria topped the list of countries that used illicit drugs in Africa (Garwood, 2012). Also, a report published by the Nation Newspaper on 15/01/2012 revealed that the annual prevalence rate in Africa for Cannabis use fluctuates roughly between 4% and 14% and it is the highest in the world. Nigeria has the highest rate of cannabis in the region, with an estimate of more than 14%. Dr. Olive Stolpe, UNODC representatives stated further that annual prevalence of Cocaine use in Africa in 2009 ranged between 0.2% and 0.8%, Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 0.7% again is among the top consumers within the region. Annual prevalence for Opiate use in Africa is estimated between 0.2 and 0.6 percent. In Nigeria, the Opiate prevalence rate was estimated to have increased from approximately 0.6 to 0.7 percent in 2009. This follows that Nigeria would have hosted roughly 500,000 heroin users (Anafi, 2011).
Many people most especially the youths use drugs as an escape from reality (such as unhappiness, low performance in school, family/relationship problems). Another factor why the youths use drugs as noted by Nicholsin (2013) is curiosity. Youngsters are eager to experiment on how drug works as a result of what they hear from their peers and other adults in the society that drugs make one feels good, alerted and functioning therefore, they become abusers.
Some youths inherit drug abuse/addiction from parents. Genetic factor just like some congenital diseases that are inherited from the parents to children, the drug addict/habits may also be inherited (Slideshare, 2012). Lack of knowledge about what drugs encompass makes youngsters engage in drinking alcohol as most people do not count it as a drug. Pollock, Candace and Charles (1979) stated that legal substances not usually considered as drugs include caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs.
Other factors that make youths engage in drug abuse involve, dealing with anxiety and depression, lack of parental care, loneliness, physical pain, low self-esteem, life frustration such as unemployment or broken homes. The easy access to these drugs and lack of stiff penalty on the abusers are part of reasons drug abuse is prevalent among Nigeria youths. Drug abuse does not necessarily correlate to how wealthy or poor one is (Merki, 1996). Some argue that wealthier individuals can afford to buy more drugs than someone living in poverty who might resort to abusing less expensive addictive substance such as in the case of sniffing glue to alter one’s physical and mental state. Hence, different circumstances induce one to abuse drugs.
Youths involvement in drug abuse has been found by researchers to have a disastrous effects on the abusers, the family and the society at large. Odedeji (2001) observed that the use of drugs among youths has always been a thought for concern. Maladjusted cases such as riots, indiscipline, moral laxity and poor academic performance of youths has been linked with the abnormal use of drugs. The health effects of drug abuse starts from the brain of the abuser. Drug causes a surge in levels of dopamine in brain, which trigger feelings of pleasure. The brain remembers these feelings and want them repeatedly. Changes in brain thus interfere with one’s ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control of behavior and feel normal without drugs (Lawrence, Melinda, & Joanna, 2013). The individual may also experience heart attack, liver cyrosis, respiratory failure, coma, which may lead to death.
Drug abuser place a burden on the family members as they expend on him financial and emotional support. Abusers involve in crimes such as stealing, pilfering, assassination, armed robbery, prostitution. According to Olatunde (2001), drug abuse is associated with violent and anti-social behaviours, suicidal delinquency, acute psychosis and youth wastage in Nigeria are just few examples of delinquent activities. Further stated was that youths who abuse drugs develop mental disorders such as anxiety, neurosis, inability to concentrate and uncomfortable sensations within the medulla obloganta which preserved the central part of the brain. This is not strange as there are many lunatics in the major streets because of their dealings in India hemp, cocaine, heroin and other dangerous narcotics.
Drug abuse among youths confers disrespect on the Nigeria image in the international world. According to Akindelly (2009), drug abuse undermine the image of the nation. Nations that are dealing in drugs are usually castigated among the comity of nations. Citizen and leaders of such nations are thus treated as ‘pariah’ among their colleagues. The nation economy also suffers as government spends huge resources which suppose to be spent on infrastructural facilities for the citizens, in curbing this menace. It could thus be inferred that drugs abuse have an immediate effect on the brain and spinal cord. Long term use of these drugs can cause psychological dependency, physical dependence and tolerance. Death can occur when drugs are taken in doses the body cannot tolerate. Withdrawer from certain drugs may cause convulsion, a depressed breathing rate, and even death (Pollock, Candace and Charles, 1979).
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 6]
Page 2 of 6
-
-
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---
