A Critical Investigation on the Social Consequences of Alcohol Abuse Among Nigerian Youths (A Case Study of Ikwerre, Rivers State)
Chapter One
Broad objective
The broad objective is to conduct a study on the social consequences of alcohol abuse among the youths of Ikwerre, in Rivers state.
Specific objectives
- To identify the causes of alcohol abuse among the youths of Ikwerre
- To analyze the social consequences of alcohol abuse among the youths of Ikwerre
- To find out the appropriate measures that can be initiated to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse among the youths of Ikwerre.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAME WORK
Introduction
This chapter presents literature review and the theoretical frame work. It is a review of the literature that relates to the study purpose and it is organized according to the objectives in order to maintain the relevance of the study problem. This chapter focuses on reviewing literature that pointed out the social consequences of alcohol abuse on youths and the measures taken to deal with the problem. The theories used in this chapter are helpful in understanding the study. The chapter also shows the conceptual framework, which is the relationship between the independent and dependents variable. On the conceptual framework, there are the intermediate variables that reduce the conflict that exist between the independent and dependent variables.
Patterns of alcohol consumption
At the world level, alcohol has a lot of cultural importance as it is used on many occasions and ceremonies. Kinney (2006) argued that, the occasions and ceremonies across the world that make use of alcohol are promoted by the culture and social customs. Alcohol is consumed due to different reasons that range from the desire for relaxation, pleasure, celebrations, drawing sorrows, to habit, followed by compulsion in some cases, Sutton (2011). In different parts of the world, alcohol consumption is common in social functions, according to Mayowo and Chikere (2011). While some regions like the Eastern Mediterranean, alcohol use is limited, others break the records in the world, in relation to excessive alcohol use. Among the areas where alcohol is greatly consumed in the world is South Africa (WHO). Even though alcohol consumption is deeply rooted in many cultures across the world, alarming reality have been shown among the youths as the patterns of drinking alcohol have changed from low to high rates (Mayowa, Ebirim and Chikere, 2011).
In Africa, alcoholic drinks are very common in almost every community. Many thousands years ago up to date, alcohol in Africa is made from cereal crops, herbs, roots, leaves and even from the sap of some trees like the palm trees. In traditional African societies, alcohol was mostly used during ceremonies like; weeding, birth and initiation ceremonies, Kilonzo and Pitkanen (1992). The behavior of consuming alcohol outside a social function was regarded foreign. Today, alcohol consumption has been very much associated with the concept of “westernization” and “Modernity”, this was according to Malulu (2003). Alcohol use is now regarded as a sign of prestige. In relation to the concept of prestige is the issue of recreation which is mostly accompanied by harmful drinking patterns, Kilonzo (1989). The situation has changed radically in Africa. Alcoholic drinks are mixed with other drugs and the communal regulations that used to govern the use of alcohol have been swept aside. Young people now use alcohol without restrain regardless of time or season. Youths in Africa use alcohol for their own personal satisfaction and not for the purpose of social events.
The Nigerian society is flooded with different kinds of alcoholic drinks. Most of these drinks (alcoholic) are advertised in radios and on televisions and since the media have great impacts on people, especially the youths, alcohol use have raised in Nigeria as they (youths) look for role models on television, Coombs (2002). A shocking revelation was contained in a study by National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD). The study showed that, thirty six (36) percent of Nigerian Students (youths) consume alcohol.
CHAPTER THREE
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter will discuss the methodology used for the research which include; site of the study, the research design, target population, the sampling procedure, research tools, pilot study, reliability of the research instruments, validity of the research instruments, data collection, data analysis and the ethical consideration.
Research Design
The research design that is adopted in this study is the descriptive survey. This design help to describe the participants of the study in an appropriate way. It (descriptive survey) covers the attitudes, perceptions, behaviors and values of the participants (Mugenda and Mugenda, 2003). The outcomes of the descriptive survey help to understand how alcohol affects the youths. The study objectives are well met when a researcher use the descriptive survey which help to understand how, when and where data is to be collected and analyzed (Parahoo, 1997).
Target population
The target population involves the youths of Ikwerre. Key informants will also be included and among them will be; the addicted youths, one village elder, head teachers of primary schools, Social workers of Rivers state Hospital and parents of the addicted youths. Target population as argued by Borg and Grall (2009) is a universal set of study of all members of real or hypothetical set of people, events or objects to which an investigator wishes to generalize the results. The target population intended to be studied should have observable characteristics in order to allow the researcher to generalize the results.
CHAPTER FOUR
FINDINGS, PRESENTANTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS
Introduction
This chapter presents the findings, presentation and the discussion of the collected data. The chapter shows the findings starting with the preliminary information, that is, the gender, age, educational level, occupational information, marital status, and religion. The factors leading to high alcohol consumption, the social consequences of alcohol consumption on the youths, the measures to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse, and the information from the Focus Group discussion (FGD) were also presented in this chapter.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter provides the summary of the study, conclusion and recommendations. The study objectives were; to identify the causes of alcohol abuse among the youths, to analyze the social consequences of alcohol abuse among the youths and to find out the appropriate measures that can be initiated to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse.
Summary of the findings
The study was carried out at Ikwerre in Rivers state, Nigeria. It involved a total of forty (40) respondents and ten (10) key informants who participated. The study established that there are a number of factors that contributed to high alcohol consumption among the youths in the study area. The factors included; the peer influence, unemployment, desire to reduce stress, media influence, absence of direction and goals among the youths, and family problems.
According to the study, the social consequences of excessive alcohol consumption among the youths were; increased school dropout, increased thefts, loss of jobs, committing suicide, wastage of money, increased stress, poor coordination, slurred speech, destruction of reproductive system, damage of various body parts (like; the brain, liver, kidney, and breast), contraction of HIV, and death.
The study also established the various Community and Government measures that were used to deal with the problems that resulted from excessive alcohol consumption among the youths. The measures used included; the prohibition of clubs and bars to operate during hours not stipulated in their licenses, changing of attitudes and perceptions of those who were consuming excessive alcohol by the Social Workers, a program of taking all youths back to school (those who dropped out of school), and the provision of licenses to businesses dealing with alcohol in order to regulate their number. These measures were mostly uplifted by the village elders and the area chief.
Theoretical Conclusions
Durkheim’s Deviance Theory
Deviance is defined as any action that is perceived as violating a society or group’s cultural norms. Norms dictate what is viewed as acceptable and unacceptable behaviors across cultures. Durkheim used the concept of anomie to explain deviant behaviors in the year 1951. In his discussion, Durkheim coined the various factors that contribute to the breakdown of the regulatory norms. According to the argument of Durkheim, the factors that leads to normlessness include sudden economic crisis and rapid social change. These factors leads to the disruption of the well-functioning of the society.
Durkheim viewed the society to have some regulations (norms) and in cases where youths of a given society are alcoholics, it means, the normal regulations have been broken down. The economic crisis in different societies leads to frustrations to people and due to this therefore, people (youths) run for alcoholic drinks. According to Durkheim (1951), a behavior may be described deviant if it deviate from societal controlled traditions and customs. For this argument, the way many youths consume alcohol goes against the societal norms, therefore, this is seen as a deviant behavior.
According to this theory, it can be concluded that, the factors pointed out by Durkheim; economic crisis and rapid Social Change relates to those provided by the respondents, to be promoting alcohol abuse. The economic crisis faced by the youths in the study area occurred due to alcohol consumption (that contributed to the loss of jobs) and as a result, the Government and the power centers (Village elders and Chief) of Ikwerre should struggle to address the whole issue of alcohol abuse.
Differential-association theory
Differential-association theory was proposed by Edwin Sutherland (1939) and he was addressing the issue of how people learn deviant behaviors. The theory argue that, the environment plays a major role on explaining how people deviate from the normal order of the society. This applies mostly to people of the same group (reference group). The people of the same reference group provides norms that facilitate either conformity or deviance and as a result, there is the shaping of peoples’ world view. The perspective also realize the contributions of socializing agents like; the family, teachers, friends and media in passing norms to those who are socialized.
The youthful stage is characterized by peer influence, where people seek acceptance. As youths socialize, they learn deviant behaviors which include; alcohol consumption, drug abuse and criminal acts. In the case of alcohol consumption, Differential-association is important as individuals must associate with others in order to experiment (taking alcohol) and then have a supply of it. The exchange of attitudes, values and motives for criminal behaviors among youths as they socialize is through the process of social learning.
In relation to the argument of Edwin Sutherland that the influence of others (peer influence) leads the youths to end up taking alcohol, it can be concluded that, the respondent’s information gathered provided similar factors. In this case therefore, it is important to deal with the root causes of the problem (alcohol abuse) in order to restore the dignity of the study area.
Social Disorganization theory
Social Disorganization theory was used by Rejendra (1998) to mean the deterioration of social relations between members of a given society due to the failure of the members to function according to their status. This leads to chaos in customs, Social Institutions, traditions and folkways. This theory argues that, people are witnessing changes in family functions. This happens mostly in urban settings of India. In India, women do not want to view themselves as inferiors to men; they are rebellious and want to become dominant. This contributes to conflicts in families. Youths end up taking alcohol in order to run away from frustrations happening in families. The youth’s tendency of escaping from frustrations is usually of a short period of time and just intensify the problems; by involving themselves in antisocial behaviors like; prostitution, cheating and rape (Rajendra, 1998).
This theory drives to the conclusion that, the respondent’s response on the increase of the problem of alcohol abuse due to family problems relates to the argument of Rajendra who pointed out the changes in customs, social institutions, traditions and folkways. For these reasons therefore, the families (parents) should be in the front line in battling the problem of alcohol abuse by setting a good example to the young ones.
Empirical Conclusions
The research findings reveled that, excessive alcohol consumption have many negative social consequences on the lives of people, especially the youths. However, despite the negative social consequences of high alcohol consumption among the youths, they continue to consume it and hence ruin their lives. The factors such as; peer influence, desire to deal with stress, unemployment, media influence, family problems, and others increase the phenomena of high alcohol consumption. The results of this is that the youths ruined their lives in terms of increased illiteracy rate, disrupt the normal body functions through disease contraction, and some of them end up dying. The fact that the nation depends on the youths on the future is just similar to the argument that Ikwerre also depends on the youths but the future of this area is not guaranteed due to the problems resulting from alcohol abuse. Due to the realization that Ikwerre is faced by the challenges of alcohol abuse, the Community effort that was started such as the process of changing the drunkards’ attitudes and perceptions should be promoted. The Government should also continue to spearhead on the whole issue of alcohol abuse through the implementation of more effective policies. However, the power centers of Ikwerre including the Village elders and the Chief should be on the front row in the war against alcohol abuse in order for the implemented Government policies to be effective and achieve positive outcomes.
Recommendations
The recommendations include those related to policy formulation and for further studies.
Recommendations for policy formulation
The research recommends the following;
The County Government of Rivers state should come up with agricultural projects in every ward in order to create employment opportunities for the youths and therefore, reduce the problems resulting from high alcohol consumption.
A policy should be formulated and implemented by the County Government of Rivers state to train the village elders and chiefs on how to deal with the problems of alcohol abuse through a processes like; awareness creation and making referrals for the drunkards other than just uplifting punishments.
The National and County Governments should combine their efforts in order to build more rehabilitation centers in Rivers state and employ the relevant skilled personnel to deal with the problem of alcohol abuse.
Recommendations for further studies
The study recommends further studies on the roles of Rehabilitation Centers in dealing with the problem of excessive alcohol consumption. The study will point out the various programmes used in Rehabilitation Centers, their strengths and weaknesses on alleviating the problem of high alcohol consumption and hence, recommend measures that can be used to improve the programmes.
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