Assessment of Substance Abuse Among Students of College of Health Sciences and Technology Ijero Ekiti
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
MAIN OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this study is to assess the level of substance abuse among the students of College of Health Sciences and Technology.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- To assess the knowledge and source of substance abuse.
- To determine the substance commonly abused among students.
- To determine the level of substance abuse.
- To assess the consequences of substance abuse among students.
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
OVERVIEW OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Drugs are generally defined as substances other than food, which are taken to change the way the body or the mind functions. These drugs could come from plants growing wild in the fields or they could be manufactured in the laboratory. They could also be categorized into legal, illegal, or harmful. These drugs are considered abused when the user deliberately uses it for non-medical purposes, as well as the arbitrary use without Medical prescription.
Drug or substance abuse comes in various shades. This involves taking too much of a drug at one time or small doses at shorter intervals. Taking a drug at regular intervals but far beyond the duration given or taking it for a wrong reason is also abuse. A drug again can be abused if it is taken in combinations with other drugs knowingly or unknowingly.
More often users move from one drug to another and use combinations of different substances. Some of these combinations could be so dangerous to cause sudden death. Drug refers to a substance that could bring about a change in the biological function through its chemical actions7. It is also considered as a substance that modifies perceptions, cognition, mood, behavior and general body functions5. This could thus be considered as chemical modifiers of the living tissues that could bring about psychological and behavioral changes5.
Drug abuse is a major public health problem all over the world9. The use and abuse of drugs by adolescents have become one of the most disturbing health related phenomena in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Several school going adolescents experience mental health problem, either temporarily or for a long period of time. Some become insane, maladjusted to school situations and eventually drop out of school9. The term drug abuse was defined as excessive and persistent self-administration of a drug without regard to the medically or culturally accepted patterns4.
It could also be viewed as the use of a drug to the extent that it interferes with the health and social function of an individual. Drug abusers who exhibit symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, behavior changes, fatigue and loss or increase in appetite should be treated by medical experts and counselors to save them from deadly diseases10.
The alarming evidence in the prevalence of drug abuse, the effects and consequences of substance abuse among students has called for concern and challenge to all helping professions to mount strategies of equipping youths with skills of living devoid of substance abuse.
In Nigeria today, the consequences of substance use are diverse, including acute and chronic health, social as well as psychological problem. There is disruption of interpersonal relationships particularly within the family, marginalization, criminal behaviour, school failure, vocational problems and failure to achieve normal adolescent milestones, yet these adolescents are expected to be the leaders of the country in the future when they do not even have any focus for the future. Several studies carried out among the secondary school students in Benin City found out that students and youth of easy virtue in the community are involved in cannabis abuse and stimulants such as amphetamines and cannabis13. The consensus of opinion therefore seems to be that youths are also seriously involved in substance abuse.
Drug abuse has become such a problem of great concern to all well-meaning Nigerian and particularly the Federal Government to the extent that an Agency has been established to combat the social disease with a view to reducing the spread of drug abuse to the barest minimum or eradicating it totally.
People abuse drugs for various reasons. These may range from curiosity, availability and previous drug use to emotional and social pressures. Drug use and abuse as a habit unfortunately could begin quite early in life as part of culture in some societies. The common drugs that are abused and which have attracted both local and international concern include tobacco, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, valium and ecstasy. According to World Health Report (1995), levels of use of marijuana and other illicit substances among the young people in the USA since 1992 have increased for the first in over ten years. Lifetime use of any illicit drug among 18 year olds in school peaked in 1981 at 66%. It again states that drug injecting is increasingly becoming common. Often, injecting implies sharing needles with its resultant risk of HIV infection, hepatitis among other infections. A crude estimate of mortality worldwide due to drug injecting is between 160,000 and 210,000 per year4.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA.
College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti is a tertiary institution located in the ancient town of Ijero Ekiti. Ijero Ekiti is a town located in Ekiti State of Nigeria in West Africa. Ijero Ekiti is the headquarters of Ijero Local Government since 1976. The total population of Ijero Ekiti as at 2006 National Population Census was 221,406.
This population can be projected with an annual growth rate of 3.2% to about 221,413 at the end of 2013. The people of Ijero Ekiti are mainly of the Ekiti sub-ethnic group of the Yorubas’. Ijero local government has a state owned School of Health Technology now, College of Health Science and Technology, Ekiti State Cooperative College, Government Technical College Ijero Ekiti and several secondary, primary and nursery schools (both private and government owned).
Various commercial enterprises such as Telecommunication Center, Mobile Network Station, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Police Command, Specialist Hospital, Factories, Sawmill, Bakeries, Filling Station, Banks, e.t.c. operate in Ijero Ekiti.
The Ijero local government has a largely agrarian population producing cash crops such as cocoa, kola nuts, coffee, kola, cashew, and timber. The town also produces food crops such as yam, cocoyam, cassava, pepper, tomatoes and bananas, all produced in large quantities with good qualities. The town is also the seat of mineral resources such as tourmaline, colombalt, vesper, and crystal stone.
The College of Health Science and Technology Ijero Ekiti is a state owned tertiary institution which was established as School of Health Technology in 1997 following the creation of Ekiti State in October 1996. The state government believed that there was need to increase the strength of middle-level health personnel in order to supplement the existing manpower in Ekiti state.
Academic programs commenced formally in January 1999 with two courses. They were Community Health Extension Workers (C.H.E.W.) in training and Junior Community Health Extension Workers (J.C.H.E.W.) in training. On 2nd January 2000, the Institution introduced four additional courses. They were Medical Laboratory Assistants (M.L.A.) in training, Pharmacy Technician (P.H.T.) in training, Medical Records Technician (M.R.T.) in training, and Environmental Health Assistant (E.H.A.) in training programmes.
Moreover the long awaited Bill for the establishment of the college was assented to on the 21st of January, 2011. It was a profound experience in the annals of history of the institution that its status by this development, metamorphosed from school to College31.
ADVOCACY/COMMUNITY PENETRATION
Introduction letter was obtained from Pharmacy Technician Department, College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti. The letter was taken to the Authorities of College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti seeking their permission to carry out the research among the students’ in the college premises.
STUDY POPULATION
The study population included all students of College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti, whom by the virtue of their provisional admission letter, are students of the College.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
SECTION A; SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
From table 4.1 above, the total number of respondents was 220. Most respondents 100(45.5%) were between the age of 21 -25 years with the least being those that were 30 years and above, 15(6.8%). Minimum age category was 16-20 while maximum age was 30 years and above. There were 91(41.4%) respondents from 100 level, 78(35.4%) from 200 level and 51(23.2%) from 300 level. There were more male respondents 119(54.1%) than the females101 (45.9%). Out of the total 220 correspondents 156(70.9%) were single, 54(24.6%) were married and 10(4.5%) accounts for divorced couple. 157(71.4%) accounts for respondents of polygamous family background while 63(28.6%) accounts for those of monogamous family background. 60(27.3%) live with their parents while 86(39.1%) live with their friends and 74(33.6%) live alone.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
For the assessment of substance abuse among the students of College of Health Sciences and Technology Ijero Ekiti, 230 questionnaires were distributed among the students of the 13 selected departments; however, a total of 220(95.65%) questionnaires were retrieved.
CONCLUSION
Drug abuse is a problem that is of a great concern to the society and the government at large. The problem is prevalent among youth who in most cases are ignorant about the dangers inherent in drug abuse. Many of them are involved in drug abuse due to lack of parental supervision, frustration. Peer pressure, poverty, pleasure etc. which can lead to juvenile delinquencies However, with effective counselling program this problem can be curbed and tracked. Based on the findings previously reported in this study, the following conclusions were drawn.
- The use of alcohol is the most common dangerous substance (drug) abuse.
- Peer group are the major people who influence the use of substance (drug).
- Substance abuse is a problem among the students of college of health sciences and technology ijero- Ekiti
- People take substance (drug) for a number of reasons: to treat body ailment, to prolong wakefulness, for relaxation, to avoid emotional trauma, to forget about their problem, to satisfy curiosity, to cope with peer pressure among others.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We have by now analysed the major findings of the survey, and interpreted the quantitative data with the help of qualitative data collected from focus group sessions (students of college of health sciences and technology). In so doing, we have already fulfilled the objectives of the study which are
- To determine the knowledge of substance abuse among students of college of health sciences and technology
- To determine the substances common abused among students of college of health sciences and technology
- To determine level of substance abuse among students of the college
- To determine consequences of substance abuse
Our final task is to make some broad recommendations, on the basis of findings of the study, for possible improvement of existing programs in rehabilitation and related services for students involved in substance abuse.
In view of the highlights of this study, the following recommendations are suggested to curb, reduce, or control drug abuse among youth.
- Designing curricula on drug education; ministry of education at all level( Local, State, and federal) should as a matter of urgency add d curricula of drug education to all level of education
- Educative posters and advertisements on every media platform to constantly remind people on the negative effects of drug abuse
- Establishment of counselling centres on drug abuse
- Establishment of rehabilitation centres to cater for those that have been affected
- Drug law enforcement agencies should wake up to their responsibility so as to control drug trafficking
- These agencies should be strengthened to punish drug users
- Drug abuse should be rated as an offence punishable by law.
- Voluntary organization and service clubs must be encourage in the society to render useful service where necessary, so as to divert people mind from evil practice and bad peer group
It is further recommended that law enforcement agencies( NAFDAC, NDLEA, e.t.c.) need to work in tandem so as to curb the problem of substance abuse in our society and
FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDES:
RAISING SELF-EFFICACY
Self-efficacy is the individual’s perceived ability to resist the temptation to re-use a drug even in a high-risk situation, such as sighting of the drug.
The prominence of self-efficacy in affecting the length of abstinence of chronic drug abusers sends the strong signal that strengthening the self-efficacy of students would be one of the most effective means to improve rehabilitation programs and services. It is advised that most programs attach importance to developing self-efficacy in their clients (students). We suggest that programs of different modalities can review the elements in their programs that aim to improve self-efficacy, and review their effectiveness. Whatever the new strategies that may be introduced into programs, they must teach the students to assess their actual level of self-efficacy, so that they would not mistakenly put themselves at risk by over-estimating their ability to “stay firm” in a situation beyond their self-efficacy can handle.
REFERENCES
- ABDULAHI, Z. (2009). “Drug abuse among youths”, The Nigerian Society of Educational Psychologists, Jos: Nigeria. pp. 131-136.
- ADESINA, S. (1975). The use of Indian hemp and drugs among secondary school students in Lagos, Lagos: University Press.
- Adolescents Health Information Project (AHIP) (2001). Drug abuse, Unpublished Pamphlet, Kano: AHIP Centre.
- AGUNLANA, G.G. (1999). “Family structure and prevalence of behaviour problems among Nigerian adolescents”, The Counsellor, 17(1) pp. 154-159.
- BALOGUN, S.K. (2006). “Chronic intake of separate and combined alcohol and nicotine on body maintenance among youths”, Journal of Human Ecology, 19(1) 21-24.
- BANDURA, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action; A social cognitive theory Engle wood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
- EKPO, A.U. (1981). ”Marijuana is very harmful”, Nigerian Gong, 9-11.
- ENAKPOYA, E. (2009). “Prevalence of drug abuse among Nigerian adolescents: Implication for counselling”, The Counsellor, 26, No 2.