CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The issue of Drug abuse has always been an international problem because it has never been possible to confine drugs to their place of origin. “The scale of global drug problems generated concern as long ago as 1909 when the first international Drug conference was convened in Shanghai. Since then, there has been an extensive international program of legislation, lately under the auspices of the United Nations, and between 1912 and 1972 twelve multi – lateral drug treaties were concluded” (Ghodse and Maxwell, 1990).In Nigeria, the problem initially came to the attention of research and health care exerts as far back as the early 1960s (Obot, 1993). In hospital – based studies, a pattern of psychiatric morbidity implicating cannabis (Indian hemp) abuse demonstrated by researchers of whom were psychiatrics. What the researchers found was that high proportions of patients admitted into hospitals because of acute psychotic reactions had histories of cannabis abuse. Most of these patients were young students, unemployed urban residents, and low – skilled workers.

The menace of “area boys” across the towns and cities, problems of armed robbery, delinquency among students in institutions of learning, especially students of higher learning, indiscriminate violence in social amusement parks, disloyalty to age mates, elders, parent and even constituted authority by breaching its laws and orders, are some of the social vices which may be related to drug misuse/abuse. Ignorance among the populace and lack of awareness on the use of various drugs and their effects on the body give room for self – medication that may lead to drug abuse.In the word of Odejide (1993) “The history of drug abuse in Nigeria is a catalogue of changes brought about by such factors as the civil war, unexpected oil boom that followed with its sudden increase in Gross National Product (GNP) and rapid Socio – economic changes and urbanization which also led to disintegration of the family social network, and increase in drugs availability.

Now, the country is facing an-unprecedented economic depression”.This is obvious as health education program is not mandatory in secondary and University curriculum and neither is it taught to community at large? This is the work of health personnel in the ministries of education to inculcatehealth awareness and wholesome health practiced especially regarding drugs, drugs usage and their effects. There is alsothe proliferation of patient medicine stores where any type of drugs can be bought whether such drugs are supposed to be over — the – counter drugs or prescription types, and at times those dispensing the drugs lack necessary training and experience in line with pharmaceutical security – risks to the health of the populace through the possibility of drug misuse and abuse.The peer – group influence is also counted among possible reasons that play a vital role in drug problems of a nation. Students are seen moving about in-groups both at school and outside the school. Most of the time their ambition is centered how to defy school and home norms and the most available medium by which they can do this is through the use of drugs which give them added coverage to achieve their aims. These reasons and many other factors lead to an indiscriminate use of drugs. Hence, the need for guidance andcounseling in schools should be made compulsory. In addition, it is expected that drug education would be considered as part of the curriculum for secondary school and universities.

As technology improves man discovers the– pharmaceutical knowledge of investing drugs and testing its effects. Thus, the effect to state the various effect of drugs, and using such terms course side effect or adverse effect, overdose, underdose, abuse, dependence and host of other jargons.

Drugs have been used for pleasure, social religious and medical purpose. It is man’s continuing desire to find cure for all the illness that afflicts him, that had lead to the invention and discovery of more drugs. The interaction of the agent (drug) ‘host (individual) and the environment (society culture) determine the drug-taking behavior in secondary school and most of the higher institution of learning. The drug-taking problem must be viewed in its psychological and social cultural context.And, drug abusers are easier to recognize, images of young men especially students in squats injecting heroin, of the well- heeled snorting cocaine or of the inebriate under the arches may be reinforced by television, press reports or by walking down the streets of any large town or city. Similarly, patients with drugs and alcohol related problems foru. much. of the day – to – day work lead in causalities, general practice surgeries and hospitals. At a stage, those infected will destroy and prevent them for achieving their goals and lead to death.