Drug and Alcohol use among undergraduate in Nigeria

DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AMONGE UNDERGRADUATES, IMPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING. A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION EHA

      CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

 Background of Study

This research work was on the effect of drug and alcohol use among undergraduates in Nigeria. This is premised on the availability of many drinking joints within the campuses of institution of learning. Drug use is common among the populace but it appears that not only the use of drugs that creates problems but rather their misuse. In other words, the widespread use of drugs and alcohol has not only turned our attention to the dynamics of drug use and it determinant effect, but also made it necessary to weigh the impact of this process on social institution and social change in future generations in terms of learning.

Drug according to WHO’s reports (1981) refers as any chemical entity or mixture of entities other than those required for the maintenance of normal health (like food), the administration which alter the biological function and possible structures. In the same vein, Oyinloye (1999) defined drug as any chemical that alters individuals’ partner of incoming sensation, mood or emotion, the psychological state of consciousness and coordination.

Nevertheless, the use of drug by either undergraduates or other members of the larger society in all its ramifications appear to be a social problem. This problem is wide spread and it affects all and sundry. In other words, this widespread use and abuse entice from all lifestyles and beyond the human destruction caused by drug dependence is damage to traditional values and life styles. Studies have also shown that drug use wrecks individual shatter families and weaken entire society with its burden of economic loses, health cost and increased lawlessness and crime.

Drug abuse according to Laver (1978), simply means the improper use of drug to the degree that the consequences are defined as detrimental to the user of the society.

Also, the World Health Organization (WHO 2006), define drug abuse as a state of periodic or chronic intoxication, detrimental to the individual and to the society, produced by the repeated consumption of a drug.

Drug use patterns include all aspect of drug use by the youths ranging from how much, how often and so on. The analysis of contemporary social problem has consistently proved more and more controversial because of the variables involved in the analysis, with the incidence of drug use, being the utmost concern to the user himself, his family, the government and the entire society in which he lives. This situation seems to have caused a lot of embarrassment to the government including most especially the damage done to the image of Nigeria abroad. It is obvious that custom officially in the United State of America and indeed the entire nations of Europe subjects the people of Nigeria travelling to their countries to a more thorough and embarrassing checks. This type of degrading and humiliating examination of Nigerians according to them is because they want to crack down smugglers of which Nigerians are the chief suspects due to the hard drug trafficking posture exhibited by some greedy Nigerians.

Furthermore, Nigerian societies have defined some drugs as acceptable while others are not acceptable without reference to their effect on mental and physical wellbeing of the users, for example, the society consider the use of alcohol and nicotine as acceptable, hence those of them who take these drugs do so freely in public without fear of arrest or society stigma.

To the society as a whole, crime, promiscuity, arm robbery and other vices are all linked to drug and alcohol use. Therefore, this study is motivated by the controversy that surrounds the effect of drug and alcohol use among undergraduates in Nigeria.

 Statement of the Problem.

Through discussion, interviews, write up and research findings; it has been known fact that there has been a world explosion of drug addiction for more than a decade. However, in Nigeria, drugs are freely available and therefore, open to use. Use of drug has become a cankerworm that seems to have eaten deeply into the fabrics of undergraduate students.

Firstly, undergraduates take drugs and alcohol in other to be high to enable them do whatever they want, such as raping girls who fails to succumb to their plight, treat fuck ups and threatened lecturers that give them low points in their results.

Secondly, drug and alcohol use entail many social problems ranging from lateness to lectures, absent to lectures and classes due to hangover, family neglects, deviance behaviors, involvement in crime and other social vices. In terms of economic cost, it includes the more money required to deal with the undesirable effect of the alcohol and abuse of drug, the less money for services and programmes that enhance the quality of life (Earl 2000).

Today, people use drugs for number of reasons, which include modification in case of pelvic or to relieve tension, bored and anxiety, some simply use drug out of curiosity and to open the mind to a new sensation. Others also use drugs to control appetite and for relaxation. 

Finally, it was this problems and the alarming rate of mental misbehave on our street today and undue irrational acts of the students that has prompted the researchers to carry out scholarly work on drug and alcohol use among undergraduate students to find out its implication for learning.

 Purpose of the Study.

 The main goal of this study is to;

Identify the issues associated with drug and alcohol use among undergraduates and the implications for learning.

To find the implications for undergraduates involvement on alcohol and drug.

To find out the drugs that is commonly use by undergraduate students in Nigeria.

To ascertain the reasons why drugs are being use by the undergraduates in Nigeria.

To outline measures for eradicating the alcohol and drug use problem among undergraduates in Nigeria.

 Significance of the Study.

The research work on the drug and alcohol use among undergraduates in Nigeria is of great significance as it entails what the result for the finding would be used for.

The results of this study would help creating awareness in the society on the general effects of drug and alcohol use on their health, most especially the undergraduates. It will make the youths to realize that excessive or even small intake of this item (alcohol and drugs) has inhibitory effects on their brain.

The result of this study will be used in making the consumers to have a second thought before partaking in the act. This will go a long way in modeling their behavior which the general awareness has created.

The study will go a long way in reducing the numerous health problems encountered as a result of the misuse of drugs or the intake of hard drugs. The study will also help young researchers or writers to solve some problems of drug and alcohol use, thereby ensuring good health of the undergraduates or youths in general and social harmony in the society.

Finally, all the social ills in the society as a result of the effect of drug and alcohol use among undergraduates in Nigeria will minimize drastically.

 Scope of the Study

This research work focuses particularly on the effect of drug and alcohol use among undergraduates in Nigeria using Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu, Enugu state as area of study.

 Research Question

The following research questions guided the study. 

1. What are the major reasons accountable for engagement of undergraduate students in drug and alcohol use in Nigeria?

2. What drugs are commonly use by undergraduate students in the contemporary Nigeria society?

3. What are the likely learning implications for undergraduate’s involvement in drug use?

4. What are the measures that can be used to eradicate drug use among undergraduates in Nigeria?

5. Which gender is more prone to drug use?

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