ABSTRACT
This research is carried out to critically review
the causes of drug abuse among secondary school students in Oredo Local
Government Area, Benin City as a case study. To make this research a reality
questionnaires were administered to collect information, the information was
collected from different places. The motive behind the research on the causes
of drug abuse among secondary school students stem from the belief that
students now engage more on drugs than before. This research also seek to find
out factors responsible for the causes of drug abuse in schools. The collected
data though questionnaires were analyzed computed in percentages. And the
following were seen as the major causes of drug abuse in schools; lack of
parental care, failure of school system, social disorganization of parents,
unlicensed drug stores, and peer groups influence.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Drug
abuse is a social problem of great concern in our society like other social
problems; drug abuse has been attracting the attention of sociologist,
political scientist, psychologist, philosophers, criminologist and social
workers.
Social
worker in particular, have been working relentlessly to provide solutions to
the problems posed by drug abuse, to this end, several causal explanations,
causes affect as recommendations through drug abuse could at least the reduced
in the society. But since the aim has not been fully accomplished, the need for
more research work on the problems becomes more imperative coupled with the
facts that the problem seriously affects the social, economic, political and
academic lives of drug users in both rural and urban areas.
Drug
abuse has far reaching effects on the progress and aspiration of the youth of
all lends. It determines how far the students can benefit from the available
opportunities provided by the homes, the government and the community.
Various
definition and explanations attempted is that the age of the students is
usually between the ages of 15 years and 18 years old.
Drug
abuse is referred to as substance abuse which involves the repeated and
excessive use of chemical substances to achieve certain effects. These
substances may be street or illicit drugs illegal due to their potentials for
addition and abuse. They can also be drug obtained with a prescription, use of
the pleasure rather than medical reasons.
The
most unfortunate victims of these drug are the students (youths) these acts or
activities are never in conformity to the general accept modes of behavior in
the society.
Drug
abuse can lead to rape, armed robbery, cultism, murder, theft, fighting e.t.c
drug abuse leads to a wide range of anti social tendencies as mentioned above.
It starts during the adolescent stage where the child feels it s fun to get
involved in drugs and can develop into a chronic addict and can cause untimely
i.
Drug: is an
illegal substance that some people take, smoke, inject e.t.c for the physical
and mental effects it has.
ii.
Abuse: is it to
take or use something in a way that is wrong or harmful.
iii.
Drug abuse: a drug
is said to be abused when its use is not pharmacological or physically
necessary it can also be used to describe a situation whereby the dosage of a
given drug is exceeded by the user.
iv.
Addict: a person
who is unable to stop using harmful drugs.
v.
Psychiatrist: a
doctor who studies and ill mental illness.
vi.
Cannabis: a drug
made from dried leaves and flowers of hemp plant which is smoked or eaten and
which gives the user of a feeling of being relaxed.
vii.
Alcohol: is a
drink that can make people drunk and starts misbehaving.
viii.
Illegal:
something that is not allowed by the law.
ix.
Psycho: a person
is mentally ill and who behaves in very strange violent way.
x.
Student: a
person is studying at a school.
xi.
Social control
agencies: these are means through which a society ensures conformity to the
existing norms and values of the society.
Death if adequate remedial steps are not taken. It
had constituted a set back in the lives of many and has been a menace in all
aspect of human life.
The
study will concentrate on the causes and effect of drug abuse on students.
The
first chapter introduces the project work. It is the means to acquaint the
readers with the basic information or knowledge of drug abuse. The chapter two
will take a critical look at the explanations of drug abuse with special
emphasis on the causes and effects of drug abuse among secondary school
students. It will also review the literature of different scholars on the
issues.
The
third chapter will discuss the research methodology, beginning with the
description of the population, proceeding to the sample and sampling method,
research instruments, procedures for data collection and finally, the method of
data analysis.
The
fourth chapter will dwell on the presentation and analysis of data, testing the
hypothesis and discussion of findings. The final chapter (chapter five) will
deal with the summary, conclusion and recommendations.
STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
The
menace of drug abuse among students has been the centre of attraction for
comments, debates and discussion amongst the public, media and other
intelligentsia.
Drug
abuse has been a problem in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria,
cases of students appearing before school and community disciplinary committee,
as well as psychiatric homes is on the increase.
The
phenomenon exhibits a great deal if worry in some parents, teachers, e.t.c, who
are somehow not able to succeed in their attempt to control their addicted
children or wards.
The
main purpose of the study is to find causes and effects of drug abuse in my
community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
SCOPE OF
THE STUDY
This
research work is intended to cover some secondary school students within Oredo Local
Government Area of Edo State.
PURPOSE OF
THE STUDY
This
research work is an attempt to study drug abuse among students in selected Secondary
Schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. I was stimulated by
frequent cases of drug abuse amongst youths and its consequences.
The
research findings may apply to other parts of Nigeria. The purpose of this
study is to;
i.
Find out why
students abuse drugs.
ii.
Find out the
drug mostly abused in the area.
iii.
To correct the
situations by making useful suggestions by making useful suggestions to prevent
or control the abuse of drugs.
iv.
To investigate
the effect of drug abuse on the academic performance of students.
SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
Research
of this nature could help in exposing and reducing the causes of drug abuse in
Oredo and assist in the preventive measures to the ever increasing rates of
drug abuse in the community and else where.
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
objectives of this study are as follows;
i.
To identify and
discuss the causes of drug abuse in Oredo local government area.
ii.
To examine the
effects of this drug abuse on the secondary school students of my Local
Government Area.
iii.
To critically
examine some social theories which explain drug abuse?
iv.
To suggest
possible solution to these anti social tendencies among students.
LIMITATION
OF STUDY
Since
the research has to be done along side with my work, the time obviously poses a
problem and limit the extent of data is gathered.
Another
problem encountered is that of finance, in terms of transportation to target
areas, distribution and printing of questionnaires and collection of data from
the various schools.
Getting
the cooperation of respondents was an up hill task as most of them could not
freely because of been exposed.