Parenting Styles And Adolescent Delinquency In Itu Local Government Area
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The use of harmful or hazardous psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and illicit drugs among secondary school students is a global phenomenon eating deep into the fabric of our society.
The constant use of drugs without prescription leading to drug abuse is rapidly growing global problem (Lakhanpaland Agnihot, 2007; United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, 2007; Abudu, 2008). It also poses a significant threat to the social, health, economic fabrics of the families, society and the entire nations (Glade, 2012; Oshodi, Aina and Onajole 2010). The increased of drug use globally has brought problems such as increase in violence and crime and diseases such as HIV/AIDs, collapse of the veins and collapse in the social structure (UNODC, 2007, Oshodi, Aina and Onajole, 2010).
Horrible youthful activities are wide-spread in Nigeria to the extent that they have been giving a lot of concern to the society, government and other stake holders in Nigeria. In primary schools, peer engage in organized crimes and disrupt normal academic programs. In secondary schools, the activities of secret cults are known to have been source of threat to lives and property. In tertiary institutions, a lot of ritual killings are taking place (Abudu, 2008).
The impact of drug use among Nigerian students has been a feature of a morally bankrupt, corrupt and wasted generation and loss of our societal values and ideals. The situation now appears to be such that no one can argue ignorance of what is happening (Abudu, 2008). This could be affirmed by Aamisu, Ahmad and Lin, 2014 saying “one cannot sit and pretend that he/she has not seen the menace of drug use among adolescents”.
Majority of the Nigerian adolescents (students) ignorantly or deliberately depend on one form of drug or the other for their various daily activities-social, educational, political, moral among others. Such drugs include: Tobacco, India hemp, cocaine, morphine heroine, alcohol, ephedrine, madras, caffeine, glue, barbiturates and amphetamines. Other drugs abused may include: Panadol, Bantlyn or local beer cigarette, solution beer (Shehu, 2008). There is no doubt that the abuse of drug among secondary school students in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria has continued unabated, thereby increasing crime rate for society. It was reported that 12 percent of pupils aged (11-15) had used drugs (Oshodi, Aina and Onajole, 2010).
Barbiturates are used by students with suicidal tendencies rather than for additive purpose. Madras use once reached epidemic proportions among students in Nigeria (Abadu, 2008). It is based on the above alarming report of drug use that this study was carried out to examine the relationship between drug use and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The extent of drug use has been a hallmark of a morally bankrupt and wasted generation, loss of societal values and ideals. Senior secondary school students are most vulnerable at this transformative stage of their lives and are often prone to dangers associated with lack of awareness on the drug usages.
Secondary school students are individuals within the age range of 11-20. Usually, trial with drugs during this period (11-20 years) is common. At this age, they try so many new things. They use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity and desire to find out the effectiveness of a particular drug, to feel good, to reduce stress, or to feel grown up. Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later (Hamisu, Ahmad and Lim 2014). In one of the WHO’s and the world Heart foundation’s data in Nigeria, 22.1 percent of school youth age between 12-17 years use tobacco. Research studies however, have showed that when secondary school students indulge in the use of drugs. Such as Indian hemp, the hard drugs interferes with their feelings and brain and renders. Them not to remember what been taught or learnt in the class. It was estimated that in 1997, 11.4% of students between 12-17 years old in Sokoto State used illicit drugs such as marijuana (Shehu, 2008). The fear is that students that are lured into early death from cardio vascular disease (CVD), violence tendencies, suicide, emotional problems to mention but a few. (Glade, 2011).
Just as noted earlier, the many consequences of drug use include: suicide, truancy, begging for money, stealing, cultism, fighting with weapon bullying, delinquency, vandalism, gang activity, sexual battery, theft or larceny, victimization etc.
Based on the above arguments and from the preliminary study revealed that about a good number of students in Akwa-Ibom precisely Uyo Local Government Area are likely involved in the use of drugs leading to increment in crime rate in our secondary schools and society at large. The researcher thus found it relevant to carry out a study on drug use and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area and possibility suggest remedy to the alarming rate of drug use and crime occurrence in our state.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The study basically sought to examine the relationship between drugs use and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State. In specific terms, the objectives of the study are to:-
Examine the relationship between taking of marijuana and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
Examine the relationship between taking of cocaine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
Examine the relationship between taking of heroine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study will be significant in a number of ways. It will help the students in schools, by providing necessary information on the effect of illicit drug use among them and also serve as a remedy tool for students who are already victims of illicit drugs use. The study would also enlighten parents and families on the need to educate and prevent their children from using illicit drugs and the consequences if neglected. It will also serve as a working tool for teachers in counselling and educating students on the use of drugs. The study would also help the school administrators on how to prevent some of the crimes incidence or their school compounds. In addition to the above significant, the study would also serve as a guide for other students who would embark on a similar research work and suggest possible areas for future studies.
1.5 Research Questions
This study set out to provide answers to the followings:
What is the relationship between taking of marijuana and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area?
What is the relationship between taking of cocaine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area?
What is the relationship between taking of heroine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area?
1.6 Research Null Hypotheses
(1) There is no significant relationship between taking of marijuana and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
2) There is no significant relationship between taking of cocaine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
3) There is no significant relationship between taking of heroine and crime rate among secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area.
1.7 Scope or Delimitation of the Study
For the sake of obtaining better result, this research work was delimited to taking of marijuana, cocaine and heroine and crime rates only and not researching to examine the causes, and it was delimited to only five crime rates out of several crimes students in secondary school commit.
1.8 Basic Assumptions
This research makes the following basic assumptions:
Secondary school students vandalize school properties as a result of taking marijuana.
Secondary school students commit truancy as a result of taking cocaine.
Secondary school students victimize other students as a result of taking heroine.
1.9 Limitation
There research work encountered challenges in gathering data for this work. The students were scared of responding to the issued questionnaire for the sake of their safety in the school compound. The researcher also had financial challenge the course of this research paper.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Vandalism:
The crime of destroying or damaging something especially public property.
Truancy:
The crime of frequently being absent from work especially school.
Victimization:
The act of making someone suffer unfairly because you do not like them or anything they do.
Theft:
The crime of stealing something from a person or place.
Drug use/Abuse:
The use of illicit substance that some people smoke, drink or inject for physical and mental effects.