essay on drug abuse 450 words in nigeria

Expository Essay On Drug Abuse In Nigeria 450 Words

In the vibrant tapestry of Nigeria, a troubling thread weaves its way through the lives of countless individuals, casting a shadow over families, communities, and the nation itself. This thread is the menace of drug abuse, a complex issue that affects people of diverse backgrounds and ages. In this expository essay, we shall delve into the layers of this problem, exploring its causes, effects, and the measures that can be taken to combat it.

Table of Contents

Essay:  Unmasking the Shadows – Understanding Drug Abuse in Nigeria

Drug abuse, a deeply rooted concern in Nigeria, has ensnared the minds of many, including students who should be shaping the future. From the allure of cocaine to the grip of heroin and the haze of hash, the usage of these substances is far from uncommon[1]. The ripples of this problem extend far beyond the individual user, impacting families, communities, and the broader fabric of society.

The intertwining of drug abuse with criminal activities casts a dark cloud over Nigeria. Often, addiction and drug usage become entangled with a web of criminal behavior, including prostitution and sexual exploitation, resulting in vulnerable individuals being preyed upon[2]. The vicious cycle leads to tragic outcomes, with users often falling victim to violence, abuse, and exploitation.

The toll of drug abuse on health is a stark reality. The human body bears the brunt of the choices made, as substance abuse paves the path to heart ailments, kidney malfunction, and irreversible damage to the brain[4]. The very essence of self-control is under siege due to altered brain functioning, perpetuating the cycle of addiction and further physical deterioration.

The devastation caused by drug abuse stretches beyond the individual to disrupt the harmony of families and communities, undermining the foundations of society itself. Relationships are strained, families fractured, and social fabric torn asunder. The burden placed on healthcare systems and law enforcement compounds the issue, diverting resources from pressing matters.

Nurturing a solution to the epidemic of drug abuse requires a multifaceted strategy. First and foremost, awareness campaigns are pivotal in illuminating the path towards a drug-free society. Through education, individuals can be enlightened about the dangers that lie within the grasp of addiction. Accessible and well-funded rehabilitation centers must be established to provide a lifeline to those ensnared by substance dependency. The gears of law enforcement should turn towards dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing the influx of illicit substances.

In conclusion, the specter of drug abuse in Nigeria is a formidable adversary, impacting individuals, families, and the entire nation. As we stand at the crossroads of a healthier future, it is imperative to address this issue head-on through comprehensive education, robust rehabilitation, and vigilant law enforcement. By doing so, we unravel the shadows that drug abuse casts, nurturing a society that thrives on resilience, unity, and wellbeing.

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Expository Essay On Drug Abuse In Nigeria (450 Words)

• July 16, 2023

Introduction

The issue of drug abuse among Nigerian youths has reached alarming levels, posing a significant threat to public health and security. The prevalence of hard drug usage, including substances like Syrup, tramadol, Diazepam, cocaine, and Shisha mix, among others, has risen to over 11% of the youth population in Nigeria. This essay will examine the concerning state of drug abuse in Nigeria, the potential consequences, and the measures that can be taken to address this growing problem.

Current Scenario and Statistics

According to the 2021 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), an estimated 275 million people worldwide used drugs in the previous year. Among them, over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders . In Nigeria, the 2018 National Drug Use Survey revealed that approximately 14.3 million individuals were drug users, with nearly three million of them experiencing drug use disorders.

The Impact of Cannabis Use

The World Drug Report highlights the worrying trend of increasing cannabis potency by up to four times in some regions over the past 24 years. Paradoxically, the perception of cannabis as harmful has declined among adolescents by as much as 40%. This is concerning as cannabis use has been linked to various health and social issues, particularly among regular, long-term users. In Nigeria alone, there are approximately 11 million cannabis users, with a significant proportion requiring drug counseling due to regular usage.

Projected Future Challenges

The global drug use scenario is projected to worsen in the coming years. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of people using drugs increased by 22%, largely due to population growth. Demographic changes alone suggest an estimated 11% increase in global drug users by 2030. Africa, including Nigeria, is expected to experience a significant surge of 40% in drug users due to its rapidly growing and young population. These projections indicate that Nigeria could potentially have around 20 million drug users by 2030, exacerbating public health and security challenges.

Addressing the Issue

While the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), under the leadership of General Muhammad Buba Marwa (rtd), has made commendable efforts in tackling drug abuse , more actions are needed to combat the supply of hard drugs into the country. Authorities must intensify their efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for trafficking these substances.

Prevention and Awareness

Preventing drug abuse requires a comprehensive approach involving all stakeholders. Parents play a crucial role in monitoring their children’s activities and ensuring they associate them with positive influences. Nigerian youths must be educated about the dangers of drug abuse, emphasizing the life-threatening consequences and the risk of diseases like lung cancer and hepatitis C associated with smoking.

The escalating rates of drug abuse among Nigerian youths present a disheartening and worrisome situation. Urgent action is required to address this public health and security crisis. Efforts must be made to enhance law enforcement measures, intensify drug supply interception, and increase public awareness programs to educate young individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse . By working together, the government, communities, and families can strive to create a healthier and safer environment for Nigerian youths.

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Drug Abuse In Nigeria: Causes, Effects, Statistics And Solution

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical and criminal justice contexts. In some cases, criminal or anti-social behavior occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long-term personality changes in individuals may also occur.

Drug abuse among Nigerians has been a scourge to the overall sustainable development of the nation. Substance  abuse is a serious issue; a global and international issue particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Drug abuse is also a major public health, social and individual problem and is seen as an aggravating factor for economic crises; hence, for Nigeria’s poverty  status. While youth are supposed to be the major agent of change and development, some of them have been destroyed by drug abuse(rendering them unproductive). Drug abuse has become a global concern in Nigeria because of its effect on youth and the nation as a  whole.

Around 15% of the adult population in Nigeria (around 14.3 million people) reported  a “considerable level” of use of psychoactive drug substances—it’s a rate much higher than the 2016 global average of 5.6% among adults. The survey was led by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Center for Research and Information on Substance Abuse with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funding from the European Union.

It showed the highest levels of drug use was recorded among people aged between 25 to 39, with cannabis being the most widely used drug. Sedatives, heroin, cocaine and the non-medical use of prescription opioids were also noted. The survey excluded the use of tobacco and alcohol.

What Are the Causes of Drug Abuse In Nigeria?

The abuse of drugs in Nigeria is caused by many factors including love for money by peddlers, disobedience to the laws of the country, proliferation of the market with individuals who sell medicines, lack of control of prescription in the healthcare facilities and lack of control of dispensing among dispensers. Other reasons for abuse of drugs include smuggling substances of abuse through our porous seaports and land borders, corruption and compromises at the point of entries, diversion of legitimate exports to illicit use, weakness in inspections and weak penalties for the sellers and traffickers.

There are many social factors that have resulted in abuse of drugs. These include decline of family value systems, parents not playing their roles properly, children and youth therefore not receiving proper guidance, peer pressure, social media influence, poverty and unemployment.

Many other justifications have also been attributed to the use of drugs especially among undergraduate students. People use drugs for a variety of reasons which includes:

• Their need to belong to a social group or class;
• Pressure from friends and peers;
• For self-medication;
• Because of parental deprivation  at  various  levels;
• For pleasure;
• To overcome  illness;
• To gain confidence;
• To overcome shyness;
• To be able to facilitate communication;
• To overcome many other social problems; and
• To induce themselves to work above their physical capacity.

Drug Misuse In Nigeria

In Nigeria, many people interchangeably use the concepts of ‘drugs’, ‘drug  misuse’ and ‘drug  abuse’, but  there are  definite differences between the concepts. Drug misuse is to use a drug for a purpose which it should not be used for. The misuse of drugs means following the medical instructions but the person may not necessarily be looking to ‘get high’ from their use. While drug abuse typically refers to those who do not have a prescription for what they are taking. Not only do they use it in a way other than it is prescribed but they also use it to experience the feelings  associated with the drug. Euphoria, relaxation, the general feeling of ‘getting high’  is always associated with drug  abuse. The abuse of drugs always results in unavoidable side effects, including dependency and addiction.

Solution to Nigeria’s drug abuse Problem

According to Prof Mojisola Adeyeye of NAFDAC, in order to address the public health, and social problems resulting from abuse of drugs, the three arms of government – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Health, health, educational and religious institutions, parents must address the issues with vigour and holistically through these approaches:

• Collaboration among strategic agencies (Nigeria Custom Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and NAFDAC) responsible for importation and regulation of controlled medicines and/or prevent the importation, distribution and use of illicit drugs .
• Heightened regulatory alertness, diligence and control of importation of drugs and food, now that NAFDAC has been returned back to our ports and borders
• The Federal Ministry of Health should develop National Prescription Policy
• Enforcement of the prescription policy by the Federal Ministry of Health
• Advocacy, and public awareness campaign through the print, social and electronic media should be carried out. Ministry of information and agencies directly responsible for the end users and consumers such as the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), NAFDAC, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), etc. should play active role in these. Additional funding of these should be provided by the government
• Stricter issuance of permits and registration of controlled medicines by NAFDAC
• Greater collaboration through use of task forces among regulatory bodies responsible for drugs and controlled substances – NDLEA,NAFDAC and PCN
• Extra-territorial enforcement to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized criminal groups operating across borders.
• Review of the drug laws to enable the judiciary apply penalties that are commensurate to the offences.
• Provision of more rehabilitation centers and workers to assist those that are addicted to  controlled drugs
• Provision of educational and employment opportunities to the youth
• Greater involvement of parents in the guidance of their children and strengthening of the marriage institutions for effective upbringing of children.

Greater involvement of educational institutions through emphasis in the curriculum about dangers of drug abuse, and of religious institutions in laying more emphasis on the protection of the body from substances that can damage and destroy it. SEE: 10 Commonly Abuse Drugs In Nigeria

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• December 28, 2021
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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Drug Abuse, Youths and National Security Implications for Nigeria

 AKINPELU, Ibrahim Lanre Department of Governance and Public Policy, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract: Drug abuse among youth population is globally identified as a threat to national security, especially in Nigeria. Although Nigeria was initially conceived as a drug-transit nation, regrettably, that conception has changed in recent times. It has profoundly aggravated to become a pose for drug abuse. Despite the counter narcotics efforts by NDLEA and other government agencies, a sizeable amount of youth population in Nigeria still abuse drugs. This study examined drug abuse among Nigerian youths and its implications for national security. The study reveals that the preponderance increase of drugs abuse in Nigeria is a veritable tool for violent crimes, aggression and youth restiveness. Erosion of human capital, unproductivity of youth population, deteriorating health as well as threat to national security were also key factors. The study relies on the analysis of secondary interpretative documents related to youth drug abuse and national security in Nigeria. The study also identified environment, family background, curiosity, enjoyment, parents socio-economic status, peer pressure as well as promotion and availability of drugs as the major contributing factors to the rising trends of drug abuse among youths in Nigeria. Adopting socio-cultural, biological, social-learning and securitization theories, the study concludes by prescribing some ways of curbing the menace arising from drug abuse and recommends for capacity building and strengthening of the NDLEA and other relevant agencies, increased awareness campaigns against drug abuse, educating students at all levels on the negative impact of drug abuse as well as parental involvement in the struggle.

Keywords: Drug Abuse, National Security, Youths

I. INTRODUCTION

Drug abuse is emerging as a global public health issue, with every part of the world having a fair share of this menace. It has been a major threat that cut across almost all spheres of life. It has the capacity to negatively influence social, political, economic, and psychological aspects of peoples’ lives. In recent times, drug use had cut across ages, as it could be found among the young and old. Cultural differences has gotten almost nothing to do with drug abuse, likewise gender hasn’t been a factor as both males and females engage in this anti-social behaviour. The recent world drug report-2021 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that around 275 million people, 5.5 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years, had used drugs in the previous year, while over 36.3 million people or 13 per cent of the total number of persons who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders. (UNODC, 2021).

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The Burden of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Epidemiological Studies and Drug Laws

2021, Public Health Reviews

Background: The burden of drug abuse is becoming a public health concern in Nigeria. Preventive measures should include identifying the root causes of the burden for targeted intervention. We, therefore, aim to conduct a scoping review of the literature to summarize the findings of epidemiological studies on drug abuse and provisions of drug laws in Nigeria. The review also provides appropriate recommendations as interventions for prevention.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the literature on PubMed to identify information on drug abuse and drug laws in Nigeria from the inception of the database to March 2020. Additional information was retrieved from Google Scholar, a manual search of included articles, discussion with experts on the subject matter, and gray literature. Study selection was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements. Information from gray literature was assessed for quality and accuracy using...

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• Press Release
• The Problem Of Drugs/Substance Abuse In Nigeria: A Symposium By Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye Director…

The Problem Of Drugs/Substance Abuse In Nigeria: A Symposium By Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye Director General, NAFDAC At The University Of Benin, Benin City

Also in press release.

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• Urgent Call to Action: Manufacturers and Importers Urged to Cease Supplying Medicines in Open Market in Kano
• NAFDAC Update on ''Mis-information on Nearly all Paracetamol Tablets in Nigeria are Possibly Under Dosed''
• NAFDAC Rolls out Palliatives to Support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Economic Growth
• NAFDAC Bursts Large Hauls of Fake Wines, Soft Drinks, and Consumables
• Released: June 27, 2018

THE PROBLEM OF DRUGS/SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN NIGERIA: A SYMPOSIUM BY PROFESSOR MOJISOLA CHRISTIANAH ADEYEYE DIRECTOR GENERAL, NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY PROTOCOL

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to be at the University of Benin to present a timely topic in the history of our nation – The Problem of Drug/Substance Abuse in Nigeria. The topic is extremely important because of the epidemic of drug abuse facing us today as a nation, especially among our youths. In December 2017, I joined the Senate Roundtable Conference on “Substance Abuse Epidemic In Nigeria”, in Kano.  Since then, I have had opportunities to speak on the same issue in Kebbi (February 2018), a Conference organised by the Office of the National Security adviser (March 2018), etc.  Then, on April 30, a BBC documentary was aired and this jolted the whole nation into an awareness that was not as heightened before that time. The exposure of abuse of codeine implicated many stakeholders including manufacturers, NAFDAC, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health.

The abuse of drugs in Nigeria is caused by many factors including love for money by peddlers, disobedience to the laws of the country, proliferation of the market with individuals who sell medicines, lack of control of prescription in the healthcare facilities and lack of control of dispensing among dispensers. Other reasons for abuse of drugs include smuggling substances of abuse through our porous seaports and land borders, corruption and compromises at the point of entries, diversion of legitimate exports to illicit use, weakness in inspections and weak penalties for the sellers and traffickers.

There are many social factors that have resulted in abuse of drugs. These include decline of family value systems, parents not playing their roles properly, children and youth therefore not receiving proper guidance, peer pressure, social media influence, poverty and unemployment.

The most commonly abused drugs in the country are tramadol and codeine. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain and is the most abused medicine among addicts. It has no effects on the respiratory system but overdose causes arrhythmias, cramps, coma and death. In Nigeria, it is regulated as the 50 and 100mg dosage strengths but very high dosage forms of 200 and 225mg have infiltrated the market. There is also noticeable increase in smuggling of Tramadol capsules. Tramadol use disorder is associated with physical withdrawal symptoms and compulsive behaviour.

Codeine can be obtained as an over-the-counter painkiller and cough medicines in Nigeria but consumers often become addicted. The risk of addiction is great, and in many countries including Nigeria, consumers are required to have prescriptions for all opioid-based medications. The misuse of codeine products contributes to severe health outcomes including liver damage, stomach ulceration, respiratory depression, coma and death. In Nigeria, despite the fact that all codeine-containing products are locally manufactured and are prescription-only-medicines (POM) since 2012, some products are smuggled into the country as unregistered products.  The reclassification as POM did not stem the trend of abuse partly due to non-adherence to the provisions made for prescription.

The lack of due diligence to ensure the integrity of the distribution chain has led to unauthorised distributors distributing the products to illicit channels and to traders with little or no knowledge of the public health consequences of codeine-containing products. These unauthorised distributors also illegally import large volumes of codeine-containing cough syrup to satisfy the illegal. market.

This crisis led to tightening of NAFDAC’s regulatory controls in May and the temporary closure of three pharmaceutical companies and stringent inspections of all companies that manufacture codeine containing syrup.

Tramadol, a hitherto prescription-only-medicine was put under national control in 2013 after the 59 th National Council on Health (NCH) meeting, based on national trends of abuse, harm to public health and social well-being. This was clearly an intervention to control supply and requires the manufacturer, importer, distributor and retailer to document all transactions including disposal of the drug. Sadly, national control measures can be circumvented at the international level hence the need to work in partnership through the United Nations to check the rising menace of pharmaceutical drug abuse among the risk groups.

Expectedly, at the 57 th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in 2014, concerns were raised on the increase in the abuse of New Psychoactive Substances, such as tramadol not controlled under the International Drugs Control Conventions. Nigeria supported the call for scheduling of tramadol in order to bring it under the Import/Export Authorisation System of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to effectively control international trade in Tramadol.

Due to lack of data on widespread use of tramadol, in 2017 the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence of the World Health Organisation requested for information on the extent of problems associated with Tramadol misuse to enable critical review of the dangers associated with the abuse of Tramadol worldwide. Available information has shown Nigeria as one of the countries in the world with highest use of Tramadol relative to our population.

In Nigeria as in many African and Middle East countries there are signs of expansion of the market for Tramadol. From the January and June 2018 data, provided by NAFDAC’s Ports Inspection Directorate, 9 X 40’ containers were intercepted at the Apapa Port all containing unregulated 200/225mg Tramadol capsules. At the Onne Port 9 X40’ containers containing similar formulations were also intercepted and handed over to NAFDAC by the Nigeria Customs Service. In another development in May 2018, the Nigeria Customs Service at the SAHCOL Shed of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, intercepted 180 cartons of Tramadol 225mg. The consignment has since been handed over to NDLEA.

Despite the fact that the Onne Port, Tincan Island Port and all the land borders are not approved as entry points for pharmaceuticals into the country there have been reports of clearance of drugs through these unapproved entry points. The concealment and importation of illicit pharmaceuticals into the country remain complicated and poses a serious challenge for effective control at the national, regional and international levels. NAFDAC has been able to seize large amounts of tramadol destined for illicit markets from the Onne port. This is as a result of improved cooperation, collaboration, coordination and information sharing between and amongst regulatory and enforcement agencies in real time to detect and prevent diversion of controlled medicines to illicit markets and abuse.

In order to address the public health, and social problems resulting from abuse of drugs, the three arms of government – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Health, health, educational and religious institutions, parents must address the issues with vigour and holistically through these approaches:

• Collaboration among strategic agencies (Nigeria Custom Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and NAFDAC) responsible for importation and regulation of controlled medicines and/or prevent the importation, distribution and use of illicit drugs .
• Heightened regulatory alertness, diligence and control of importation of drugs and food, now that NAFDAC has been returned back to our ports and borders
• The Federal Ministry of Health should develop National Prescription Policy
• Enforcement of the prescription policy by the Federal Ministry of Health
• Advocacy, and public awareness campaign through the print, social and electronic media should be carried out. Ministry of information and agencies directly responsible for the end users and consumers such as the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), NAFDAC, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), etc should play active role in these. Additional funding of these should be provided by the government
• Stricter issuance of permits and registration of controlled medicines by NAFDAC
• Greater collaboration through use of task forces among regulatory bodies responsible for drugs and controlled substances – NDLEA,NAFDAC and PCN
• Extra-territorial enforcement to identify, disrupt and dismantle organised criminal groups operating across borders.
• Review of the drug laws to enable the judiciary apply penalties that are commensurate to the offences.
• Provision of more rehabiliation centers and workers to assist those that are addicted to  controlled drugs
• Provision of educational and employment opportunities to the youth
• Greater inolvement of parents in the guidance of their children and strengthening of the marriage institutions for effective upbringing of children.

Greater involvement of educational institutions through emphasis in the curriculum about dangers of drug abuse, and of religious institutions in laying more emphasis on the protection of the body from substances that can damage and destroy it.

As a result of this crisis, the government is actively and currently working with various MDAs to mitigate the abuse of drugs in the country.  If all the stated approaches are implemented, the nation and its youth can be spared from the current nightmare.

Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, PhD, FAS

Director General, NAFDAC

• Content Current as of June 27, 2018

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Drug abuse and Nigerian youths

Drug abuse. PHOTO: BBC

SIR: The current health situation of Nigerian youths is disheartening and worrisome considering their engagement into hard drug abuses. Over 11 per cent of youth’s population in Nigeria take hard drugs like Syrup, tramadol, Diazepam, cocaine, Shisha mix among others.  A report from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) said around 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders, according to the 2021 world drug report released by the UNODC. As the 2018 National Drug Use Survey revealed, in Nigeria at that time there were around 14.3 million drug users of which close to three million suffered from a drug use disorder.

The World Drug Report further noted that in the last 24 years cannabis potency had increased by as much as four times in parts of the world, even as the percentage of adolescents who perceived the drug as harmful fell by as much as 40 per cent, despite evidence that cannabis use is associated with a variety of health and other harms, especially among regular long-term users. It is a worrisome trend, considering that there are 11 million cannabis users in Nigeria, a third of whom seemed to be regular users with a need for drug counselling. 

Between 2010 and 2019, the number of people using drugs increased by 22 per cent, owing in part to global population growth. Based on demographic changes alone, current projections suggest an 11 per cent rise in the number of people who use drugs globally by 2030 – and a marked increase of 40 per cent in Africa, due to its rapidly growing and young population. In Nigeria, this would signify that the country will have to grapple with approximately 20 million drug users by 2030, further deepening the public health and public security challenge.

According to the latest global estimates, about 5.5 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years have used drugs at least once in the past year, while 36.3 million people, or 13 per cent of the total number of persons who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders. In Nigeria, with 14.4 per cent the drug use prevalence is significantly higher than the global average.

I will commend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the able leadership of General Muhammad Buba Marwa (rtd) for his commitment in ensuring that he sanitises the country from drug abuses, but I want to urge NDLEA and relevant authorities to take necessary action for those found guilty of supplying these hard drugs into the country. 

Lastly, parents should ensure that their children mingle with good friends and also monitor all their day to day activities; and to Nigerian youths, avoid using hard drugs because you are putting your life in danger. Smoking of any kind brings about diseases like lungs cancer and hepatitis C among others.  Yunusa Usman Chindo.

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• v.21(3); 2021 Sep

New trend of drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria

It appears that there is a new trend in the types of drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria that makes it difficult to identify current drug abusers.

This study was conducted to reveal the trends with regards to the types of drugs abused by these students in the country.

This is an online and desktop review of published articles about the types of drugs abused by secondary school students during the period that spanned from 2010–2020.

In all, 17 research reports were identified as having data on the types of drugs abused by secondary students in the Nigeria. It was found that 18 different drugs were empirically identified as being abused by secondary school students in 9 different states of Nigeria. The observed trend is that alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and cigarettes are the most abused drugs, while drugs that were least abused were cocaine, caffeine, glue, heroine, energy drinks, miraa, rohypnol and tramadol.

It was concluded that studies of drug abuse by secondary school students in Nigeria are not yet robust enough to reveal the types of drugs that are currently being abused.

Introduction

Drug abuse is described as the non-adaptive model of drug use with concomitant adverse health consequences that usually produce cognitive, behavioural, and psychological dysfunction problems among abusers 1 . Drug abuse negatively affects all the dimensions of health by distorting the proper functioning of the body and mind. Drug abuse is not a new phenomenon but one that is growing at an alarming rate, which nearly every country in the world, including Nigeria, have to tackle 2 . As shown in the United Nations' World Drug Report 3 , nearly one out of every 20 adults in the world, who are between the ages of 15 and 64 years, were confirmed drug abusers in 2014 resulting in over 29 million people worldwide suffering from drug abuse disorders.

The onset of drug abuse has been shown to begin during adolescence 1 . Transition from childhood to adolescence represents a delicate period during which initiating drug abuse may occur 2 . Drug abuse is forming a student sub-culture in Nigeria that can be devastating and can bring a lot of adverse effects on the national community 4 . Sloboda 5 submitted that drug abuse is a global problem that is impacting not only individual lives but also whole communities. It is therefore necessary to study specific aspects of the problem, especially which drugs are being used and by whom, in the attempts to contain the problem. Therefore, establishing the types of drugs that are currently being abused by secondary school students would greatly assist intervention plans towards reducing the burden of drug abuse and prevention of adverse effects. It is because, drug abuse begins mostly during the adolescent years when people are still of secondary school age 6 . This review study was therefore conducted to reveal the current trends regarding the types of drugs abused by secondary school students in the Nigeria.

Methodology

This is an online and desktop literature review research that focused on studies conducted to elicit the types of drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. Every article related to types of drugs abused among secondary school students, which were conducted in Nigeria and published in domestic and international journals in the past ten (10) years, were investigated. The published research articles studied were obtained from academic/professional association journals and research periodicals, including Journal of Nigeria School Health Association (JNSHA), Journal of Nigeria Association Health Educators (JNHE), Journal of Health Promotion Research Association of Nigeria (JHEPRAN) and Journal of the Nigeria Association of Physical and Health Education, Recreation Sports and Dance (JNAPHER.SD).

The keywords used in the search included ‘types of drugs abused’ and ‘secondary school students’. The studies included must have measured drug abuse and elicited samples from only students in secondary school and have been published between January 2010 and March 2020. Out of the total of 20 articles retrieved and reviewed, three (3) were excluded because they did not contain data with regards to the types of drugs abused by secondary school students. A total of 17 papers were identified as having data on the types of drugs abused by secondary students in the country and so were used in this review. Four (4) of the 17 papers are articles that reviewed the types of drugs abused secondary school students in the country, while the remaining 12 articles reported data collected with regards to the types of drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria.

One study on ‘Counselling Strategies for the Prevention and Control of Drug Addiction in Enugu State’ 7 was excluded in this research. Although, the paper had a list of drugs commonly abused by secondary school students, it did not report any data to show that these were the types of drugs being currently abused by the students. The research on pattern of psychoactive substance use in the northern region of Nigeria 8 had data on the types of drugs abused. It was, however, excluded from this study because the data collected were not from Secondary School students but from inmates of Kiru Rehabilitation Centre, Kano in the North Central Region of Nigeria. There was a study that reviewed the public health impact of substance use on adolescents in Yenagoa of Bayelsa State, Nigeria 9 . Although this article attempted to address the current trends and research related to the public health impact of substance use on adolescents in Yenagoa, it did not bring up any data on the types of drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. This study was therefore excluded from this research. The research by Erumi 10 was included in this study because the age group from which she got her data in Warri metropolis (15 – 30 years) can be found among secondary school students. Although, the study on ‘Curbing the Menace of Drug Use among Secondary School Students in Nigeria’2 did not collect any data, it was included in this study because it pointed at data collected by other researchers.

In 2010, one study 11 found caffeine, analgesics, antimalaria, antibiotics, hypnosedatives, alcohol, tobacco, glues/organic solvents, cannabis, heroin, cocaine as the drugs abused.

In 2011 one study, the review by Pike 12 stated that cocaine was identified by Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Report as one of the drugs abused. In 2012, the under-listed three studies identified the indicated drugs as abused by secondary school students in Nigeria.

1. Nwagu's 13 survey of the types of drugs commonly abused by secondary school students in government secondary schools in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, identified Beer, Palm wine, Indian hemp and Glue as the drugs abused.

2. Ekpenyong 14 , in his survey of drug abuse in selected secondary institutions in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria, identified alcohol, cigarettes, miraa and bhang as the abused drugs abused.

3. Fareo 15 , in her review of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Reports, found that the following classes of drugs were being abused:

a. Stimulants;

b. Hallucinogens;

c. Narcotics;

d. Sedatives;

e. Tranquilizers; and

f. Miscellaneous substances, such as glues, spot removers, tube repair, perfumes and chemicals.

In 2013, one study 16 found analgesics, cannabis, tobacco, alcohol and sedatives to be among the drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. In 2014, one study 17 in Lagos, found analgesics, cannabis, tobacco, alcohol and sedatives to be among the drugs abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. In 2015, the underlisted two studies identified the indicated drugs as abused by secondary school students in Nigeria.

1. Erumi 10 , in her empirical survey of the prevalence of non-medical drug use among adolescents and young adults in Warri metropolis, identified alcohol and energy drinks to be among the drugs abused.

2. Dumbili 18 , in his literature review research found alcohol as one of the substances abused.

In 2016, the under-listed three studies identified the indicated drugs as abused.

1. Obiechina and Isiguzo 2 , in their literature review research, found that the following classes of drugs were being abused:

a. Nicotine, found in tar, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and traditional snuff, is the mostly abused;

This study suggests, without any empirical evidence, that rohypnol, known as ‘roofies' is generally abused by

b. students of secondary and higher institutions in Nigeria;

c. Codeine syrup, which is usually mixed with soft drinks or garri soaked in water;

d. Stimulants such as caffeine, cocaine, nicotine and amphetamine;

e. Narcotics such as heroin, opium, morphine, tramadol, cannabis also known as pot, marijuana, hashish and bhang;

f. Depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers and rohypnol;

g. Hallucinogens such as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);

h. Inhalants, among which are volatile organic solvents (derived from industrial or household solvent products like paint, thinners, dry cleaning fluid spray lubricants, gasoline, kerosene, nail polish or remover, furniture polish and wax, fuel, gases, nitrites and anesthetic gases (chloroform, nitrous oxide and ether), commercial solvents like gasoline, kerosene, glue, and typewriter correction fluid among others) and household or commercial gasses and propellants like butane lighters, propane, hair and deodorant sprays, room deodorizer sprays, refrigerants sprays, ether, chloroform and halothane; and

i. Aphrodisiacs

2. Anyanwu, Ibekwe and Ojinnaka 19 in their cross-sectional survey that employed the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire to study the pattern of substance abuse among adolescent secondary school students in Abakaliki found alcohol, Kolanut, Coffee, Cigarettes, Cannabis and Cocaine to be some of the drugs abused

3. Manyike, Chinawa, Chinawa, Obu, Nwokocha and Odetunde 20 , in their cross-sectional survey that utilised the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire to study the correlates of psycho-active substance use among boarding secondary school adolescents in Enugu, South East Nigeria, identified Kolanut, Alcohol, Coffee, Tobacco, Tranquillizers and Cannabis to be among the drugs abused.

In 2017, one study 21 found alcohol and hot drinks, tobacco, Indian hemp or marijuana to be among the drugs abused.

In 2018, the under-listed two studies identified the indicated drugs as abused by secondary school students in Nigeria.

1. Idowu, Aremu, Olumide and Ogunlaja 22 , in their study, identified caffeine, cigarettes, cocaine, tramadol, heroin and cannabis to be among the drugs abused.

2. Amadi and Akpelu 23 , in their descriptive survey, identified alcohol, hot drinks, tobacco, Indian hemp, marijuana to be among the drugs abused.

In 2019, one study 24 discovered that Cigarettes, Marijuana, Alcoholic beverages, Cocaine were among the drugs abused.

In 2020, one study 6 , a cross-sectional survey of factors associated with psychoactive substance use among inschool adolescents in Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria, discovered kolanut, sedatives, alcohol and tobacco to be among the drugs abused.

Table 1 show that 16 different types of drugs were empirically identified as being abused by secondary school students studied in 9 of the 36 states in Nigeria.

Drugs Abused according to State of Study and Year of Publication

Table 2 shows the trend of the types of drug abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. The table shows alcohol and alcoholic beverages were the most researched drug that could be abused by secondary school students.

Trend of Drugs Empirically Identified as Abused according to Year of Publication

It is discernible from Table 1 that drugs were being abused by secondary school students studied in 9 of the 36 states in Nigeria. The implication of this finding is that only nine (9) out of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had incidence of drug abuse among secondary school students in the last ten (10) years. This finding appears to contradict previous researchers’ claims that adolescents all over the country are abusers of drugs 25 – 28 . Oshodin 29 had, earlier on, revealed that 85% of secondary school teenagers in Benin City were then current abusers of alcoholic beverages. About ten years later, Oshodin 30 found out that adolescents, who are mostly secondary school students, initiate alcohol abuse during religious and ceremonial functions such as marriage ceremonies where they function as servers and tasters of alcoholic drinks. This cultural practice has not changed in Edo State, yet the state is not among the states where drug abuse was found among secondary school students in the literature in the past ten years. The finding that only nine (9) out of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had incidence of drug abuse among secondary school students in the last ten (10) years can, therefore, be interpreted to mean that the phenomenon of drug abuse by secondary school students in Nigeria is no longer being given the due attention it deserves by Public Health and Health Education researchers in Nigeria.

Table 2 shows that there are 18 different drugs that were empirically identified as being currently abused by secondary school students in Nigeria. There is a trend shown on the table that alcohol and alcoholic beverages appear to be the most abused drug in that it was reported by twelve (12) different researchers every one of the years under study. Alcohol was followed, in the trend of drugs abused, by Bhang /Cannabis/ Indian hemp or Marijuana. Indian hemp was found to have been abused every one of the years under review except one year, 2015, when no study reported that it was abused. The next most abused drug, tobacco, was found to have been abused by seven (7) different studies in six (6) out of the ten (10) years under study. Tobacco is followed by cigarettes, cocaine, and sedatives which were each found to have been abused by four (4) different studies in five (5) different years. The table also shows that kolanuts and analgesics were each found by three (3) different studies to have been abused in three (3) different years. Coffee, caffeine, glue and heroine were found to have been abused by two (2) different studies in two (2) different years. The least abused drugs were energy drinks, miraa, tramadol, tranquillizers, antimalarial and antibiotics, which were found to have been abused by only two (2) studies in two (2) of the ten (10) years under study.

This observed trend appears not to be telling the true story of the types of drugs being abused by secondary school students in modern day Nigeria. There are indications that students of secondary schools are abusing rohypnol and codeine syrup, which they usually mix with soft drink or garri soaked in water 2 . Cocaine has been observed to be a trending drug of abuse among adolescents in secondary school 19 . The need show off one's class of status in society has been advanced to be among the probable reasons why cocaine, tramadol and heroin are now trending as drugs of abuse among secondary school students in Oyo-State, South-West Nigeria 22 . Encomium Magazine 31 had opined that secondary school students in Nigeria are shifting, in their types of abused drugs, towards such drugs as codeine linctus/syrup, tramadol and so on that can easily be obtained over the counter at big and small medicine stores. Some of the studies reviewed adopted the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire. The drugs, codeine syrups/linctus, miraa, cocaine, tramadol and heroin, rohypnol or roofies, considered to be the trending drugs of abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria are not listed in the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire. The observed trend that alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and cigarettes are the most abused drugs while cocaine, sedatives, kolanuts, analgesics, coffee, caffeine, glue, heroine energy drinks, miraa, tramadol, tranquillizers, antimalarial and antibiotics were the least types of drugs being abused by secondary school students in modern day Nigeria can thus be understandable. Adopting the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire as an instrument of studying drug abuse among secondary without modifying it to suit the Nigerian context is bound to yield faulty results. After all, newer drugs that were being abused by high school students in Iran were discovered because the WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire was adapted to suit the local societal environment in Iran. Also, conspicuously missing from the reviewed literature is the fact there was no nationwide study data to establish the actual trend of drug abuse among secondary students in the country, Nigeria.

Drug abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria is a public health problem that has not been well researched. Efforts being directed at preventing the ugly situation can only be meaningful if well researched national data on drug abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria are made available.

Recommendations

1. It is necessary to conduct a nationwide study that will provide data on drug abuse among secondary school students in every state of Nigeria. In this manner, the types and peculiarities of drugs being abused by secondary school students in the country will be known according to each state.

2. The standardized instrument, WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire, could be used for the nationwide study that is being recommended. The WHO Student Drug Use Questionnaire should, however, be modified to include those newer drugs of abuse, which are being suggested by opinion leaders and magazines.

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to all the authors whose scholarly works were utilised in this study.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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