Factors Responsible and Implications of Substance Abuse among Youth in Southwest Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Sociology, Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria.
Abstract
Substance use and abuse is a growing problem in both developing and developed countries. The increase in psychoactive substances use and misuse is a global challenge and of grave public health concern. Nigeria is currently witnessing an alarming increase in the rate of substance use and abuse among the youths and emerging adults. The youth who are expected to constitute or dominate the Nigerian labour force are languishing in substance abuse and other social vices. The implications of the menace undoubtedly constitute great threat to the entire society. Part of the reasonsyouth engages in substance abuse in Nigeria includes issuessuch acuriosity, peer pressure, enhance performance, boost self-esteem, cope with unpleasant emotions, frustration, and get high syndrome. Youth are dying morally, socially, psychologically and physically.It has become worrisome that despite the known risks associated with the drugs, adolescents continue using these drugs.It is against this backdrop that this paper explores the factors influencing youth involvement in substance abuse in Southwest Nigeria. The study adopts Differential association theory and the paper revealed that peer influence, urbanization, unemployment and the media catalyzes the preponderance of substance abuse among Nigerian youth. The study recommends that government should sensitize the Nigerian populace particularly the youth on the danger inherent in substance abuse; relevant agencies must be empowered to control the menaceand strict legislation should be made prohibiting psychoactive substance in Nigeria.
Description
Keywords
Substance, Abuse, Youth, Peer Influence, Social vices, Nigeria