The_effect_of_drug_abuse_among_nigeria_university_undegraduates

Project Abstract

Drug abuse among Nigeria university undergraduates has become a growing concern with serious implications for the individuals involved, their families, the educational institutions, and the society at large. This study aims to investigate the effects of drug abuse on the academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being of university students in Nigeria. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather data from a diverse sample of undergraduate students across different universities in Nigeria. The quantitative surveys will focus on collecting information on the prevalence of drug abuse, types of drugs commonly used, frequency of use, and the perceived impact on academic performance. In addition, the qualitative interviews will delve deeper into the personal experiences and perspectives of students regarding drug abuse, shedding light on the motivations behind drug use, social influences, and coping mechanisms. The study will also explore the availability of support services and interventions for students struggling with drug abuse within university settings. The findings from this research will contribute to a better understanding of the factors contributing to drug abuse among university students in Nigeria and the subsequent effects on their academic and personal lives. By identifying the specific challenges faced by undergraduate students in relation to drug abuse, this study aims to inform the development of targeted interventions and support programs to address the issue effectively. The implications of this study extend beyond the individual level to the broader institutional and societal levels. By highlighting the consequences of drug abuse on academic performance and mental health, the research aims to raise awareness among university administrators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals about the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent and address drug abuse among undergraduates. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on drug abuse among university students in Nigeria and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving prevention, intervention, and support services within the university setting. It is hoped that the insights gained from this research will inform policy decisions and initiatives aimed at promoting the well-being and academic success of Nigerian university students.

Project Overview

<p> </p><p>INTRODUCTION<br>1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY<br>This research work is on the effects of Drug Abuse among University undergraduates in Nigeria. It appears that not only the use of drugs that create problems but rather their misuse. In other words the widespread use of drugs has not only turned our attention to the dynamics of drug use and its determinants but also made it necessary to weigh the impact of this process on social institutions and social charge in future generations.<br>Drug abuse according to Laver (1978) simply means the improper use of drugs to the degree that the consequences are defined as detrimental to the user and or the society. The World Health Organization (WHO (2006) also defined 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 (natural or synthetic).<br>Drug abuse patterns include all aspect of drug usage by the youths ranging from how much, how often and what sort of drugs, where who, with, what circumstances and so on. The analysis of contemporary social problem has consistently proved more and more controversial because of the variables involve in their analysis, with the incidence of drug abuse, being of utmost concern to the abuser 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 Nigerian abroad. It is obvious that custom officials in the United States of America and indeed the entire Nations of Europe subject the people of Nigeria traveling 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 on smugglers of which Nigerians are the chief suspects due to the hard drug trafficking posture exhibited by some greedy Nigerians.<br>Furthermore, Nigerian societies has defined some drugs as acceptable while others as not acceptable without reference to their effects on mental and physical wellbeing of t the of the users, for example, society considers 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.<br>To the society as a whole, crime, promiscuity, armed robbery and other vices are all linked to drug abuse. Therefore this study is motivated by the controversy that surrounds the effect of drug abuse among University undergraduates in Nigeria.<br>1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM<br>Drug abuse in Nigeria in the contemporary time has become one issue that cast a gloomy shadow to the entire Nigerian society especially among University undergraduates. The height of drug trafficking in Nigeria was witnessed in 1985 under the military regime. During this period, it was mostly the University undergraduates that were caught and the first to be executed for drug offences under the “special tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences) Degree No. 20 of 1984. However, the abuse of drugs is not only limited to the University undergraduates as alien phenomenon is to distort its significance.<br>Nevertheless, the usage of drug either by University undergraduates or other members of the larger society in all its ramifications appears to be a social problem. This problem is widely spread and it affect all and sundry. In other words, this wide spread use and abuse entice people from all walks of life and beyond the human destruction caused by drug dependence is the damage to traditional values and lifestyles. Studies have also shown that drug abuse wrecks individual, shatter families and weakens entire society with its burden of economic looses, health cost and increased lawlessness and crime.<br>Also, drugs seem to undermine the ability of University undergraduates to learn. Drug also appears to contradict our values of physical wellbeing. People experiment with drugs because they seem to hold the promise of fulfillment. But the fulfillment is generally elusive, greater and greater quantities are consumed and ultimately the person suffers both physical and psychological deterioration. The drug abuser also experience problems of interaction and this interactional problem is encountered both inside his immediate family and stress invariably is created in the family situation of drug abuse (Hoffman, 1990).<br>To add to this, drug abuse may entail a lot of social problems ranging from lateness to lectures, family neglect, deviance behaviours, involvement in crime etc (Earl 2000). In terms of economic cost, it includes the more money required to deal with the undesirable effects of the drug abuse, the less money for services and programmes that enhances the quality of life (Earl 2000).<br>One of the factors militating against the eradication of drug abuse among our University undergraduates is that our security agencies, such as the police force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies among others have not done enough to check this scourge. Another factor militating against the eradication of drug abuse among Nigerian University undergraduates is the problem of corruption among the men and officials of these fore mentioned agencies.<br>To this end and judging from the problems outlined earlier, this research aims at ascertaining the effect of drug abuse among University undergraduates in Nigeria using the University of Calabar, Cross River State as a study area.<br>1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS<br>The following research questions will guide the study.<br>1. What are the common drugs likely to be abused by undergraduate students in the contemporary Nigeria society?<br>2. What are the major reasons accountable for engagement of undergraduate students in drug abuse in Nigeria?<br>3. What are the likely implications for undergraduate‟s involvement in drug abuse?<br>4. What are the measures that can be used to eradicate drug abuse among University undergraduates in Nigeria?<br>1.4 MAJOR OBJECTIVE<br>To determine the effect of drugs abused by undergraduates in Nigeria<br>1. To find out the drugs that is commonly abused by undergraduate students in Nigeria.<br>2. To find out the implications for undergraduates involvement on drug abuse.<br>3. To identify of this study also aims at looking at some of the measures aimed at eradicating the drug abuse problem among University undergraduates in Nigeria.<br>4. To ascertain the reasons why drugs are been abused by the University undergraduates in Nigeria.<br>1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY<br>There is a great need for this study as it entails what the result for the findings would be used for.<br>The results of the study should help in creating awareness in the society on the general effects of drug abuse on their health most especially the University undergraduates. It will make the youths to realize that excessive or even small intake of this item (drugs) has inhibitory effects on their brain.<br>The result of this 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.<br>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 abuse, thereby ensuring good health of the University undergraduates or youths in general and social harmony in the society.<br>Finally, all the social ills in the society as a result of the effects of drug abuse among the University undergraduates in Nigeria will be drastically minimized.<br>1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS<br>(a) Drug: A drug is a chemical substance capable of altering the physical and psychological function of the body.<br>(b) Abuse: This means the misuse of something. It can also be described as the illegal use of something.<br>(c) Drug Abuse: This is the misuse of drugs. It could be defined as the illegal use of substance which interferes with the human behavior.<br>(d) Effects: This could be defined as consequences. It is also the power to produce result.</p><div><div></div></div><br> <br><p></p>