Impact of Social Media on Drugs Usage Among Youth: a Case Study of Nima Community in Ghana
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the relationship between social media and drugs usage among youth of Nima community in Ghana
- To ascertain the most use drug on social media in Nima community of Ghana
- To ascertain the health effect of drugs among youth of Nima community in Ghana
- To find out the social media that influences youth for drug usage in Nima community of Ghana
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
SOCIAL MEDIA
According to Sherman (2000) the term “social media” was in 2007 coined by Danah in Boyed of the school of information at the University of California and Nicole B. Ellison of the Department of Telecommunications, information studies and media at Michigan State University. Even though the term is usually regarded by several people to mean the same with similar concepts like new media and social networking sites, however, the two concepts are not actually the same. In order to rightly contextualize the concept of social media, it is imperative to consider what social networking sites are. Boyd and Ellison (2008, P. 21) opined that “social networking sites are web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semipublic profile within a bounded system, articulates a list of other users with whom they share a common connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system”. Boyd and Ellison’s definition provides us with an understanding for describing social media. According to them, social media is a medium that allows individuals to share important information with friends. Social media therefore, is a subset of information communication technologies. Corroborating Boyed and Ellison’s definition, Chijioke (2013) asserted that “social media are simply internet based interactive platforms through which people can create and exchange information in a participatory manner on a real-time basis.” He went further to note that they are online democratic and participatory communication channels that allow inhibited exchange of information and documents among users. According to Arthur (2011), social media are internet-based tools and services that allow users to engage with each other, generate content, distribute, and search for information online. It is the interactive or collaborative nature of the medium that makes them “social”. In a nutshell, this paper defined social media as online tools that allow communication of information online and make participation and collaboration possible. Specifically, social media here is used to refer to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs, MySpace, Friendster, Linkedin and many others.
SPECIFIC DRUGS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Alcohol:
Alcohol is contained in drinks such as beer, wine, brandy, spirits and whisky. It is an extremely potent drug. It acts on their body primarily as a depressant and lowers down the brain activity. However, in low doses it can be a stimulant. If used in excess, it will damage or even kill body tissues including muscles and brain cells. Its consumption causes a number of marked changes in behaviour. Even low doses impair judgement and coordination. With extreme intoxication the drinker may lapse into comma. Alcohol has produced many enjoyable moments and sad ones as well. The street names used for alcohol include: booze, pints, slaush, brew and jolly juice. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effect just described. Repeated use can lead to dependency. Sudden withdrawal of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations and convulsions.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought impact of social media on drugs usage among youth a case study of Nima community in Ghana
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information impact of social media on drugs usage among youth a case study of Nima community in Ghana. 200 students of selected university in Nima, Ghana was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Impact of social media on drugs usage among youth a case study of Nima community in Ghana. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Impact of social media on drugs usage among youth
Summary
This study was on Impact of social media on drugs usage among youth a case study of Nima community in Ghana. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the relationship between social media and drugs usage among youth of Nima community in Ghana , to ascertain the most use drug on social media in Nima community of Ghana, to ascertain the health effect of drugs among youth of Nima community in Ghana and to find out the social media that influences youth for drug usage in Nima community of Ghana. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 students of selected university in Nima, Ghana. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made final year students, year four students, year three students and year two students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Of course, there are a lot of other ways of how the Internet can influence our children in substance abuse, but the authors focus more on the use of social networks and the influence of celebrities, because as teenagers and kids, this generation tends to find something or someone they idolize, or interested in. They usually are exposed more to those matter they let themselves expose to, for example their choice of friends, or who they are connected to, as well as the celebrities, who they like or adore the music, films, sports, or shows. Once the teenagers develop their interest into something, they will tend to make researches and discovery, and often, will result in imitation or mimicking the actions they thought is cool or fun. It is important that these children be educated about the real aftermaths of drugs and alcohol abuse, so that they develop and understanding of why they should never go near them. It is the first hand effort of parents and peers, who are close to the children, to make sure that this problem stays controllable, without letting them to fall deep into the tricks the Internet could bring.
Recommendation
There is need to enhance awareness among parents about the media influence in the psychological development and consequently, the educational outcomes of their children as not the sole responsibility of the government and teachers.
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