Drug abuse among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria has become a pressing public health concern, with significant implications for individuals, families, and society. Despite the acknowledged medical benefits of certain drugs, their non-medical use has led to widespread social, psychological, and economic challenges. This study explores the prevalence and pattern of drug abuse among students of Kaduna Polytechnic, a diverse institution that reflects the broader Nigerian student population. It examines various psychoactive substances commonly abused, including alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, and psychotropic drugs, and highlights the associated risks, such as addiction, crime, and mental health disorders.
The study is justified by the increasing involvement of youths in drug-related crimes, including violence, traffic violations, and social delinquency, which threaten national development. Given that youths constitute a substantial proportion of the Nigerian population, understanding the factors contributing to drug abuse—such as peer influence, family background, and accessibility—will provide critical insights for intervention.
The research aims to assess students’ knowledge of drug abuse, identify commonly abused substances, determine the underlying causes, and recommend measures to mitigate the problem. The findings will support health education programs, inform school policies, and contribute to broader strategies for preventing substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Cover page
Title page .i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of content .vi
List of tables vii
List of figures .viii
List of appendices ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Justification. .3.
1.3 Aims and objectives 4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction . 6
2.2 Definitions of some terminologies . 7
2.3 Historical background 10
2.4 Problem statement.11
2.5 Classification of drugs/substances.18
2.6 Consequences of drug/substance abuse 26
2.7 Aetiology/risk factors of drug abuse 28
2.8 Initiatives and efforts at combating drugs/substance abuse .32
2.9 Conclusion 35
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOY
3.1 Background of the study area 37
3.2 Materials and methods .39
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS
4.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the study population 42
4.2 Knowledge about the drug(s), prevalence and pattern of drugs use.45
4.3 Reasons for drug used and factors influencing drugs use
4.4 Site effect experience by drug users
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSIONS
CHAPTER SIX
6.1 Recommendations .
6.2 Conclusions .
6.3 References
APPENDICES
Appendix I
Appendix II (questionnaire) Appendix III
Appendix IV Appendix V
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
There is a growing public concern in our country, Nigeria, about involvement of adolescents and young adult in drug abuse, which is defined as the non - medical use of substances by human beings that may modify one or more of its functions and may impair an individual ability to function effectively and may result in social
physical or emotional harm1. While it is universally accepted that drugs can be of
tremendous benefit to man and society, it is also acknowledged that inappropriate use of drugs can be harmful to man .The personal, social and public health problems associated with psychoactive substance use, have continued to arouse world wide interest and concern. Various reports and researches conducted have illustrated this phenomenon. Drugs/substance abuse is a world wide hazard with dangerous complications that affect many countries around the globe, Nigeria inclusive. The problem varies from place to place.
The African seminar on problems of drug dependence held in Lagos, Nigeria declared that “Drug abuse and dependence producing substances are widely prevalent in African countries have continue to increase. These problems affect the individual, the family and the society in general. Substance abuse which was originally conceived as the problem of a selected few is today becoming a problem of a sizeable proportion of the world population. The problem is so grave that it has extended beyond the usual characteristic profile of abusers being male, adult, and urban-based to now include females, youngsters and those who live in rural areas. Its economic effect is so devastating that it is estimated that the annual retail cost of psychotropic substances by prescription is over two billion naira while the alcoholic industry which produces over
five billion gallons of alcoholic beverages annually generate more than four billion naira from sales to a consumer population of about 30-35 million people2.
Illicit Drug traffic known to generate huge profit and fortune and that is one reason why it has been very difficult to combat the drug traffic in spite of several laws that have been promulgated. For instance, it has been estimated that the sum of $400 billion is the turn over of illicit drug industry, which is equivalent of approximately 8% of total international trade and therefore larger than the trade in iron steel, motor
vehicle, textile, tourism3. Drug abuse and other associated problems constitute a major
threat to the survival and effective functioning of human societies, lives are lost daily through addiction and activities of addicts. A significant number of deaths from accidents and violent crimes have been traced to the activities of persons under the influence of drugs4,5,6. Treatment facilities nation wide are now gradually being over burden with drug-related problems and cases4,7. The need to prevent drug abuse among
the general population and by the growing generation of Nigeria thus becomes imperatives.
Nigeria which once served only as trans-shipment route for drugs soon became a “consumer” country when it was observed that the increasing incidence of drug abuse among students is a contributory factor in the ugly confrontation between school
administrators and students8,9,10. The problem of drug abuse poses a far greater health
hazard than most imagine. Psychoactive drugs and substances have the primary effect on the mind such as altering mood, feelings, perceptions and behaviours. These drugs are usually taken to give an insulation from the real world and its difficulties11. This is accompanied by the feeling that varies according to the drugs used. This is common to those whose personality development is insufficient to enable them cope with the
normal life.12
One of the hazards of using of drugs/substance to alter mood and feeling is that some individuals eventually develop dependent on the drug. They have diminished flexibility in terms of their behaviour toward a particular drug or substance. They became dependent on the drug for their feeling well being. The intensity of this need or dependent may vary from mild desire to a craving or” compulsion to use the drug/substance and when the availability of the drug is uncertain they may exhibit a pre-occupation with its procurements. In extreme form, their behaviour exhibits the characteristics of a chronic relapsing disorder, this is a state referred to as” addiction or
dependence”13,14,15. The substances commonly abused include tobacco, alcohol,
stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, cannabinoids, amphetamine, volatile solvents like glue, petrol, diethyl ether, chloroform correction fluid, psychotropic medicines such as sedatives, anxiolytics, hypnotics etc16,17,18. Most of the drugs being abused are beneficial, but also have devastating after effects such as psychosis, paranoid schizophrenia, chronic addiction with all the implications of mental and physical
dependency14,15,16. Some of the social and environmental contributory factors
associated with substance/drug abuse include living away from home, relaxed parental control, alienation from family, early exposure to drugs, peer influence, easy access to the drugs and their availability etc3,19
1.2 Justification
Some crimes committed under the influence of drugs include murder, rape, robbery, homicide, destruction of lives and properties, violation of traffic regulations leading to accidents, affecting the user and or the people of the society in general. Studies conducted showed that youths account for about 70% of the population
engaged in drug14 again bearing in mind that the youths of this country constitutes about
43% of the entire population, then drug abuse has an alarming negative influence on the future of the country. It is therefore pertinent that research programs should be carried out to determine the population at risk, the changing pattern, trend and prevalence of drug abuse over time among the higher institution students in Nigeria, because the youth and school going population constitute a high risk group and the most susceptible to drug abuse. Also, to determine the effect of drug abuse on an individual and the society to allow for adequate social monitoring, planning and evaluating of services. Perhaps, the incorporation of drug treatment and prevention programmes into primary health care (as part of mental health component in schools health services) would be a giant step in the right direction.
This particular research work will attempt to find out the practice of psychoactive substance and drug abuse among the Kaduna Polytechnic students, and the research findings may contribute towards providing information for planning health education and other important measures to effectively help in cubing the menace of drug abuse among youth. The problem of drug abuse being of public health importance needs to be effectively and efficiently control, to greatly reduce the menace and consequences such as crimes and cultism. Kaduna Polytechnic is highly cosmopolitan with students admitted from all over Nigeria and other countries. It has been in one fore front in the training of high and middle level manpower for the various sectors of the nation’s economy, therefore the project will have a great impact on many youth and the nation in general.
1.3 Aims and objectives
1.3.1 Aim: To determine the pattern of drugs/substances abuse among students of
Kaduna Polytechnic.
1.3.2 Objectives:
i To assess the level of knowledge of Kaduna Polytechnic student on drugs/substances abuse.
ii. To identify the various types of drugs abused by the students.
iii. To identify predisposing factors for drug abuse among the students.
iv. In the light of the above findings to make recommendations to the management on how to minimized the problem in the school.
