Causative Factors and Problems Associated with the Use and Abuse of Psychoactive Substances among Students of Secondary Schools in Lagelu Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Over the past two decades 3.4 million kilograms of drugs have been seized and destroyed since the inception of the Nigerian anti-drug agency; the National Drug Law Enforment Agency (NDLEA) began operations in 1990. Majority of reported cases involved syndicates with international links. However, the influence and root factors of substance use and abuse among youth especially adolescents of secondary school age have not been thoroughly assessed. In this researcher paper, we studied and reported how drug abuse begins among students and how it progresses and becomes monumental and difficult societal problems. We also studied the current situation in randomly selected junior secondary schools in Lagelu local Government area of Oyo State in Nigeria. Results revealed some contributing factors to the risks of drug abuse which aggravate the chances for substance or drug abuse in schools where there were no preventive or proper interventions. It was also shown that most drug abusers including individuals at risk of drug abuse with addictive trends by youngsters span over different stages and over a long period in life. Results did also show that many in early adolescent respondents between the ages of 12 and 16 had started the use of illicit substance and drugs at early adulthood some of who were at the verge of becoming addicted to various illicit substances. Respondents in the range of 70.9 % cited frustration and low self-esteem as factors for their involvement in substance use while 72% cited parental deprivation resulting from polygamy, divorce or lack of parent’s involvement in their upbringing. Another 81.3% of respondents took drugs for mind augmentation and relaxation and 67% of the respondents in their opinion, believed that parental influence and adult involvement were twin factors in the abuse of drugs.

Keywords: Psychoactive drug, Addictive desire, Drug Abuse, Adolescent