THE IMPACT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH

THE IMPACT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION (1.0)

1.2 THE STUDY’S INTRODUCTION

Drug misuse among kids is a major issue that has spread around the world. In Jamaica, the use of drugs by adolescents has increased throughout the decades. Researchers discovered that while usage was not dependant on sex while analyzing the drug usage habits of Jamaican youths. In 1989, 78 percent of males and 73 percent of females were using one of the four drugs (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and tobacco). Between 1994 and 1995, 60 percent of kids tried one or more drugs, including marijuana, and 1.3 percent used cocaine. (Alexander etal, 2001), (G Learnar, 2010).

Drug misuse is a complex topic that has long been a public health concern in Malaysia. Illicit drug use and relapse is a problem that affects cultures all around the world. According to a 2008 report, the number of registered drug users is around 250,000, and it is anticipated to reach half a million by 2015. There is also a concerning tendency of a high relapse rate of 50%, which has been observed for decades. From January to September 2012, the number of new and recurring drug cases in Malaysia decreased by 4053 and 2882, respectively (National Anti-Drug Agency, 2012).

Peer pressure and curiosity are the leading causes of drug usage. In Malaysia, unlike in other areas of the world, drug misuse is primarily ascribed to family characteristics such as parental behavior, family relationships, home environment, and economic standing. The social pressure to belong, be accepted, and be a part of a social group, particularly among teenagers, causes individuals to conform to their peer group and begin using drugs. (Dr Tam, 2010).

With the rise of drug users among professional groups, there is also an increase in the use of drugs as a coping mechanism for stress. College and university students, for example, are frequently drawn into drug use due to peer and academic pressures. Opiates are the most often abused substances, followed by cannabis and amphetamine-based stimulants like Adderall, which is used to treat patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Monash University Malaysia (September 2017).

Marijuana is the most misused drug in Zambia, followed by volatile solvents and hard narcotics like heroin and cocaine (INCB, 1993).

Drug misuse is a global issue. It has an impact on all sections of society in all countries. It has a particular impact on the independence and development of young people, who are the world’s most important asset. (UNODC, 2002).

The severity and nature of this problem differ from region to region and country to country. Drug misuse among young people has recently reached unprecedented levels. According to the World Drug Report, 180 million individuals worldwide consume drugs, the vast majority of whom are teenagers. 2007 (Lakhampal and Agnihotri).

The Drug Enforcement Commission and the Ministry of Education implemented preventive education in schools in response to the problem. The ministry has incorporated anti-drug and alcohol abuse information into the school curriculum. However, there has been an increase in drug addiction among students in the Livingstone district in recent years. This development alarmed community members, who thought that it would put many students at danger of poor academic performance, behavioral issues, and potentially HIV infection. In light of rising levels of drug usage, concerns have been raised about whether or not school-based prevention initiatives are effective. A study of this kind was required to get this outcome. The outcomes of this study were supposed to contribute to the body of information on the impact of school-based prevention measures for drug misuse among students. R. L. Bangert-Drowns (1988).

Emotional issues and substance abuse are considered dishonourable in many cultures. Drug misuse, for example, is viewed as a moral issue that contributes to family shame and loss of respect among traditional Asian-Indians. However, drug consumption appears to be on the rise among southern Asian immigrant refugee groups in the United States, indicating cultural influence. From a historical standpoint, this is pretty interesting. Journal of Adolescent Health, 1998.

In Asia, notably in China, drug usage and its related health concerns were introduced by the British in the 17th century, but declined when China gained independence from the British Empire. However, since the 1980s, China’s substantial industrialization and westernization has been correlated with increased drug abuse, implying yet another cross-cultural influence. 2008 (PsicoHiema).

Adolescents’ perceptions of drug abuse in the United States have been thoroughly documented. The perception of harm was negatively connected to illegal substance use. Adolescents who perceived strong parental opposition to drug use were also less likely to consume drugs. Participation in religious services was associated with a lower rate of drug abuse among teenagers. Subjects who engaged in conflicts, on the other hand, were more prone to take drugs. 2001 (J.Sch Health).

Although adolescent perception of drug usage varies and connects with prevalent cultural standards, many questions remain unsolved. Personal characteristics and peer substance use, for example, were substantially linked with drug misuse in adolescents in a study of adolescents in South Africa. In the same patient group, parental influences and environmental stressors linked less strongly with drug misuse. 2007; BMC Public Health.

It is worth noting that the adolescent lifetime marijuana rate in South Africa was substantially lower than that in the United States (6-12% vs. 19.7%). This could be due to marijuana’s scarcity in comparison to other substances. In the Arabian Peninsula, for example, an amphetamine-like chemical called Cathinone, derived from a flowering plant called ”khat” or ”cathaedulis,” is a popular drug abuse. Chewing khat is popular in Yemen because of its powerful stimulant impact and rich social and cultural history, yet it offers serious health hazards. (Edwards, Bernstein, 2008).

While it is unclear why adolescents chew khat, it has been proposed that students take it to improve their exam performance. Although khat was formerly regulated only at the local level, its global growth, particularly among immigrants from Eastern African countries, has prompted classification and subsequent control (Lancet, 2007).

Drug abuse is the leading cause of incarceration for many young people in Nigeria today, as well as a source of crime and health problems. The number of young people detained in various prisons across the country has risen considerably in recent decades. The majority of these young people have been arrested for drug offenses or have a drug problem. However, since the establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 1999, frantic efforts have been undertaken to collect useful information on drugs via a range of drug indicators for policy formulation. These agencies have a huge impact on intervention tactics and control. J.W. Sort (1994).

Drug addiction among adolescents in Enugu and Nsukka has been a problem for both the youngsters and society as a whole. The repercussions of drug usage affect not just the user but also his or her offspring, family, and society. Drugs are regularly utilized by people of all ages, young and old. Drugs should be utilized for beneficial medicinal purposes and as useful substances for good health, however they are being abused by people, particularly youngsters. A. Onodahro (1999).

The impact of drug addiction among young people has been characterized as moral decadence. Drug misuse has tarnished the faces of today’s youth and brought shame to society. The adolescents are consuming drugs illegally, unlawfully, and on purpose. Many young people, whether unknowingly or intentionally, rely on one or more drugs for their daily activities. As a result, the issue of drug misuse has become a major concern for society. In recent years, the rate at which youth take drugs has been so alarming and concerning that significant efforts have been made to eradicate it. As more and more young people abuse drugs, the attempt to remove them dwindles. Drug abuse and addiction have catastrophic and tragic repercussions, but young people continue to use drugs. (1967, Barber).

Drug usage among the youth in Lagos State has become a severe problem that affects everyone. Addiction drives many people, particularly young people, into a downward spiral of hopelessness, which can be lethal in some situations. From glue-sniffing street kids and teen ecstasy users to hard core heroin and cocaine addicts, there is something for everyone. 2005 (Nacada).

Drug misuse causes lost salaries, property devastation in schools, skyrocketing health-care costs, and shattered families. Parents, children, teachers, government officials, taxpayers, and workers are all affected. Drug misuse and other related issues pose a significant threat to the survival and effective functioning of human communities; lives are lost on a daily basis as a result of addiction and addicts’ behaviors. The behaviors of people under the influence of drugs have been linked to a considerable number of deaths in accidents and violent crimes. (1991, Falope).

The state’s treatment facilities are rapidly becoming overburdened with drug-related problems and cases. The necessity to avoid drug usage among the state’s expanding generation of teenagers becomes critical. Obagunleye (1990).

Drug addiction in Plateau State can be traced back to the Kabong people far before the colonial era. The conventional perception is that drug usage is done for motivation, intoxication, and appropriate physical and social performance. Some people believe that it provides them with fantastic ideas and thoughts. Others described it as a ”oil of conversation,” implying that when consumed, it allows them to speak eloquently and meaningfully or sensibly. Swaggert (1984).

There appears to be an increase in drug misuse in family settings in the Kabong neighborhood in Jos South Local Government Area. An observation reveals that drug misuse is prevalent among both sexes, yet this observation also reveals that most female drug users do not openly engage in this activity due to socio-cultural reasons. Drug usage is one of the biggest social problems confronting the youth of Jos South’s Kabong community; it accounts for a large amount of the problem and has raised health and marital issues for social welfare agencies. As has been witnessed in most Plateau State villages, the problem of drug abuse has become a trans-cultural phenomenon in the community. Silverstein (1990) provides an example.

In light of the increasing incidences of drug misuse among young, the Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, in collaboration with the Bureau for Drug misuse Preventive and Treatment, has educated stakeholders in Kaduna about the scourge of the issue in order to mitigate its consequences in society. Teenagers and youths are the most at risk, but females are also involved. Drivers, conductors, civil employees, and artists are among the other types of abusers (Media Trust Limited, 1998-2017).

1.3 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM

The behaviors of people under the influence of drugs have been linked to a considerable number of deaths in accidents and violent crimes. (1991, Falope).

Because of the rising use of drugs by the youth, the neurological system, heart, kidneys, and lungs of the youth deteriorate and are destroyed.

This prompted the researcher to investigate the effects of drug addiction on teenagers aged 15 to 30 in UngwanKadara, Kaduna.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major goal is to determine the impact of drug abuse on kids in UngwanKadara, Kaduna, while the specific goals are as follows:

• To look into the psychological and emotional effects of drug usage on individuals.

• To investigate the economic consequences of drug misuse on the family.

• Determine the societal impact of drug usage on society.

• To provide a solution as a guideline for drug misuse prevention.

1.5 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

• To learn about the psychological and emotional effects of drug usage on an individual.

• The study will aid in determining the economic impact of drug misuse on the family.

• The findings of the social impact of drug usage on society will aid in the promotion of growth and relationships in society.