Youth, Religiosity and Substance Abuse: A Nigerian Private University Experience

Abstract

Youth and Substance Abuse

The youth are the link between the present and the future of any culture. Only a visionless society will ignore the plight of its youth and their vulnerability to social vices and life crises.  The environment and other external factors influence the youth,  their vibrancy and innovativeness, not withstanding.  Buowari, (2013) asserts that their curiosity and tendency to explore and experiment with new activities predispose them to substances abuse and other high-risk behaviour.

Ukpokolo, (2010) posits that the Nigerian traditional and socio-cultural system provides for some unwritten codes of moral conduct and social sanctions that regulate human behaviour. For instance, a drunk was tagged an irresponsible person.  Such a person becomes the theme of ridicule at social gatherings through music and other cultural forms and may not be involved in very important village or community gatherings. This stigma discourages community members from alcohol abuse. The lines of distinction between religion and culture are usually blurry, thus  religion and culture supplements each other. Religion stipulates practises, rites, and conducts on one hand while the culture of the land directly or indirectly reinforces the values on the other. Nmehielle, (2004) confirms that in Northern Nigeria the culture promotes the Islamic way of life (Sharia). The Yoruba of Western Nigeria also practice a way of life is a blend of cultural and religious practices heavily laden with  social taboos and prohibitions. The gradual eroding of some aspects of these cultural norms due to Western standards and ideals calls for a reexamination of the role of religious sanctions in checkmating substance abuse among the youth.

The youth are faced with various issues such as HIV/AIDS, STDs, suicide, abortion, violence, abuse, accidents, robbery, prostitution, examination malpractices and other countless societal vices. The indiscriminate use of narcotics and alcohol makes them susceptible to  these problems. Most auto accidents cases are associated to substance abuse due to low mental coordination and impaired senses. Young people who engage in narcotics  are more likely have unprotected sex which results to STDs, unwanted pregnancy, abortion and other reproductive health problems. The insatiable appetite for more of these vices at all cost consequently result in armed robbery and prostitution to raise the needed money. Some of the predisposing factors to substance abuse in Nigeria are peer group influence, lack of knowledge of health, mental and social  implications, the media, low self esteem and parental negligence.

The addictive nature of these drugs make it hard for an individual abusing them to quit. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA; 2011) in its review of 2010 activity in Nigeria pointed out that 6788 suspects were arrested at the international airports and other exits ports of the country. The majority of perpetrators were youth. What if any are some socio-cultural deterents that  may serve to discourage behaviours associated with substance abuse? The focus of this article is to identify and substantiate the role of religion and spirituality in providing a deterence for youth in their relentless pursuit of the thrills of substance abuse.