THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Drugs have been use by man since his creation. According to Vender (1997:790) human beings have long history of using chemical comforters drugs to change their mood, feeling, or perception. Samuel (1974:50) indicated that “there has been no time in history that was free from man’s constant search for substance from the environment that he might use to alter his perception and feelings. Although drug use has been an important part of many cultures, a few societies like Nigeria have been concerned about misuse and abuse of drugs.
Drug abuse is one of the social problems that confront almost every civilized society today. The drug problem is inherent in the social system and has exerted much pressure on individuals as well as various groups in the society. Drug abuse is like a cankerworm and has affected the future and well-being of many youths. It is sad to note that despite the harmful impact of drugs on the lives of people the abuse and trafficking of drugs has gained grounds and has occupied a prominent place within a large segment of our society.
Odejide (1989:66) noted that those drugs which exert their biochemical effects on the brain leading to sedation and changes in human behaviour are known as “Psycho-active substance” or “hard drugs.” The use of such hard drugs when they are not medically prescribed or when administered in excess constitute the phenomenon of “drugs abuse”. The abuse of drugs can also occur when such uses of drugs result in the physical, mental, emotional or social impairment of the user.
According to Laurie (1967:63) drug is any chemical substances that alters mood, perception or consciousness and is misused, to the apparent detriment of the society. Bayh (1972:4)) defined drug as any chemical substance taken into the body in order to alter physical and psychological functioning of an individual.
Drug identified as harmful are grown on farms in Nigeria, some quantity of these get consumed locally by criminals; other are used in interventional drug traffic. However, abuse of hard drugs is rampant among students in tertiary and secondary school in Nigeria.
