Substance Abuse and Its Devastating Health Effect on the Youths of Onitsha Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Substance/drug abuse is emerging as a global public health issue that poses a huge concern to everyone world over. The recent world drug report-2021 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that over 275 million people across the globe used drugs, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders. As the 2021 National Drug Use Survey revealed, in Nigeria at that time there were around 17.3 million drug users of which close to 5 million suffered from drug use disorder. This study investigated substance abuse and its devastating health effect on the youths of Onitsha Metropolis, Nigeria. In line with its specific objectives, the study investigated the drugs commonly used or abused by Onitsha youths, examined the factors influencing Onitsha youths to use or abuse drugs, explored the sources of drugs commonly abused by Onitsha youths, and determined the devastating health effect of drug abuse among Onitsha youths. The study used the general strain theory of Agnew Robert (1992) in explaining the social phenomena studied. The study population comprised of 69143 youths in Onitsha aged 16 years and above (both male and female), and a total of four hundred and five (405) respondents were selected using purposive sampling techniques from the five selected districts in Onitsha, purposively selected. Data were collected via questionnaire and In-depth Interview (IDI). Findings revealed that peer pressure, pleasure seeking, curiosity, quest to relieve stress, quest to belong to the social circle of the big boys and girls, amongst others, were reasons for drug use and abuse. Based on the findings, this study recommends thus: Anambra State government should as a matter of urgency enhance the use of task forces and greater collaboration among regulatory bodies responsible for drugs and substances control – NDLEA, NAFDAC and PCN – to stem drug abuse in the state; the state government should provide more educational and employment opportunities to the youths; and there should be greater involvement of parents in the guidance of their children and in strengthening the marriage institution for effective upbringing of children.