Drug Abuse and It’s Effect on Matrimonial Home a Case Study
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
General Objective
To establish the effect of drugs on the matrimonial homes.
Specific Objectives
The study sought to achieve the following specific objectives:
- To establish factors that lead to high drug consumption households;
- To determine the effect of drugs on the matrimonial home;
- To find out the effect of drugs on the health of the consumers;
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Commonly used Drugs
In Nigeria, concern over the possible increase of drug abuse, especially among the youth has led to few survey carried out to ascertain the type of drug used. A study carried out by Kyalo and Mbugua, (2011) on drug abuse by students in secondary schools in Murang‟a County indicated that the use of tobacco and alcohol are more common than the use of other substances such as cannabis (bhang), Khat (miraa) and other illicit substances.
They use cough mixtures, tranquilizers, sedatives, sleeping pills, eye drops among others. They fake illness to access these drugs from either their school health facilities or hospitals. Use of inhalants such as glue and cigarette lighter fuels are also on the increase. In some cases illicit brew such as „changaa‟ is also smuggled into the school Kyalo and Mbugua, (2011). A recent report states that the students are increasingly using a new drug called „Kuber‟ which is a mixture of „tobacco‟ and „bhang‟ Kikuvi, (2009).
Information gathered from teachers in some selected schools especially high cost schools indicate that children carry spirits sometimes mixed with fruit juices, sweets, glucose, ice, tea and other drugs to school. This is taken during their free time or in between lessons, hence a intoxicated student body MOEST, (2015).
A study carried out by Otieno, (2009) on drug abuse in Kisumu town interviewed 458 students in 9 secondary schools in Kisumu district and concluded that students used alcohol, tobacco, khat, cannabis and cocaine which had risen drastically in the previous decade. By age 15, according to the study, some students were found to have already started using drugs and by the time they are 19, 33 percent males and females had already become drug abusers.
From the above studies it is apparent that much has not been done to determine the commonly abused drugs among secondary school students. It is therefore essential to carry out this study and determine other unique drugs that may be abused by secondary school students in Ikenne Local Government Area.
Causes of Drug Abuse
Some of the reasons why students abuse drugs are as follows:
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure where each student wants to associate self with the colleagues who use drugs. According to the United Nations, (2013), drug users like other people seek approval for their behaviour from the peers, whom they attempt to convince to join them in their habit as a way of seeking acceptance. While conducting an assessment on substance and drug abuse in Nigerian schools, Gatonye, (2006) observed that peer pressure has a negative or a positive impact depends on the quality of the peer group. Unfortunately, the same peer pressure that will act to keep a group within an accepted code of behavior can also push a susceptible individual down the wrong path. A study carried out by Kyalo and Mbugua, (2011), on narcotic drug problems in Murang‟a South District of Nigeria, a case study of drug abuse by students in secondary schools noted that a majority of the drug users have friends who use drugs, and even in school they gang together to plan how to get the drugs. This takes most of their time for study since all these are done in secret usually preps time.
Muma, (2008) conducted studies on the influence of drug abuse on discipline amongst students in secondary schools in Ikenna and agreed that there is a significant relationship between the subjects drug using behavior and involvement of their friends in drugs. According to him, if an adolescent associate with other adolescent who use drugs, the risk of involvement with drugs is further increased.
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CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The study adopted a descriptive survey. A descriptive survey research seeks to obtain information that describes existing phenomena by asking individuals about their perceptions, attitude, behaviour or values (Mugenda and Mugenda 2003). A descriptive study design is deemed the best design to fulfill the objectives of the study. This design is considered appropriate for the type of objective of this study and the implied comparative analysis to determine the effects of drug use on the matrimonial homes. This fact-finding investigation provided adequate interpretation of the phenomenon being studied. Its specificity was highly useful because it focused on particular aspects of the problem being studied.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Background Information
Gender of the Respondents
Out of the 168 respondents interviewed, 60 (36%) were female and 108 (64%) were male. The indication is that most of the household heads in the study area male.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of Key Findings from the Primary Respondents (Household Heads)
Prevalence of Drug Abuse in the Study Area
The study established that 104 (62%) of the respondents interviewed reported that they knew someone who abuses drug in the area while 64 (38%) reported the contrary. Drug abuse in this case means drug consumption that leads to irresponsibility in socio-economic, occupational or other spheres of life. These continue to consume drug excessively inspite of the behaviour causing them serious health, family, and even legal problems.
Factors that Lead to High Drug Consumption households
The main factors that make people use drug excessively in Imo State are corruption, peer pressure, idleness, unemployment, poverty, marital problems, media influence and work related stress. Drug consumption households is moderately influenced by the need to cope with stress and relate with opposite sex.
Corruption on the side of law enforcers, bar owners and drug dens was cited as the topmost factor contributing to excessive drug consumption in the area.
Effect of Drugs on the Matrimonial home
The study established that the main impacts of excessive drug consumption on the matrimonial home are domestic violence (100%), marital problems (95%), selling of family property without due consultation with family members (76%) and death (58%).
Drugs and the Health of the Consumers
The study found out that the main impacts of excessive drug consumption on the health of the consumer are disability as a result of drug-related injuries/accidents (100%), poor health associated with malnutrition and lack of good hygiene (70%), health conditions like liver disease, and cancer (50%) and loss of eyesight and/or death (40%).
Community’s Reaction towards the Problem of Drugs in Society
The Owerri community was acting to curb the vice by:
- Ensuring bar owners open at the stipulated hours only, and allowing only those over18years to smoke.
- Preaching against drug abuse (excessive drug consumption included) in schools and
- Putting up a rehabilitation centre that will assist those who have already been addictedeven as prevention of new cases goes on.
- Having Drugss Anonymous sessions on particular days of every month in Imo andother towns to assist those already in the vice to redeem
Conclusion
These findings point to the fact that drug abuse and particularly excessive drug consumption has adverse effects on the matrimonial homes in Owerri LGA of Imo State. This is evidenced by rampant excessive drug consumption despite the community’s efforts at curbing the vice, regardless of the Drugs abuse and Control Act 2010, and the adverse effects involved. A most worrying trend is the ability the vice has to make families dysfunctional, cause health conditions and even death. This vice has been perpetuated by corrupt law enforcers, peer influence, unemployment, and poverty among other factors. All in this community agree that drug abuse has negative effects on the welfare of individuals, families and their health. With the Owerri LGA community already aware of these facts, and having already started reacting to the problem, it will be easier to achieve positive results if government policies and laws are effectively implemented i.e., with consistency, and without fear or favour by the enforcers of the Drugs abuse Control Act.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Policy Consideration
The study recommends the following:
- Enhancement of discipline for the law enforcers to ensure they effect the Drugs abuse and Control Act 2010 effectively without being corrupted or favoring/fearing
- The Imo State government to come up with programmes that engage youth toreduce cases of idleness, unemployment and poverty which highly contribute to excessive drug
- The government at both the State and National level to come up with Anti-drugs initiatives which should be incorporated in school curriculums at all levs- primary, secondary and college levels.
- Thegovernment should empower NDLEA to deal with illicit brewers
- A social responsibility charter for Drugs abuse producers should be formed inorder to encourage smokes companies not to manufacture products
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