DRUG ABUSE IN NIGERIA AMONG YOUTH

Drug abuse is a global health and social problem with distinct conditions and problems that vary locally [1]. The use of psychoactive substances among adolescents and youths has become a subject of public concern worldwide due to the fact that it contributes potentially to deliberate or un deliberate harm/injury [2,3]. Drug abuse, addictions and trafficking has a universal propaganda that transverse across socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic boundaries [4]. Despite the efforts of the Nigerian tiers of Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stem to its tide in Nigeria, there has been a consistent spate in the number of cases especially among adolescents (10-25 years of age) [5]. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common in Nigeria. At this age, they desire to explore many things due to several factors like: curiosity, peer pressure and to relieve stress. Using gateway drugs especially alcohol and tobacco due to early exposure increases the risk of using other hard drugs later. Some adolescents experiment and stop or continue to use occasionally without having negative complications. Others develop addiction that makes them move into more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others: family and community (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2003).

CONCEPT OF DRUG ABUSE

The use of drugs for social rather than prescribed medical reasons has been well documented [8,9]. A comparison with other third world countries reveals that Nigeria ranks among the highest users of dangerous drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, benzodiazepines, cocaine and opioids [10]. A review of the literature clearly indicates that there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of drug use and its associated consequences within the last three decades [11-13]. Almost all types of psychoactive substances are available in Nigeria due to their spill over into the streets from drug traffickers who use Nigeria as a conduit to transport drugs from South East-Asia (the Golden Triangle) and South America (Boliva, Peru, and Brazil) to Europe and North America [14].