Abstract

Drug abuse is a harmful practice and habit that has become a menace to the society. It is the ingestion of drugs and other drug related substances in ways that are considered harmful to the consumer, who has the intention of influencing mood, thought patterns and actions. Abuse of harmful drugs has impacted negatively on the lives of young people and by extension, the family, the community, and the society at large. There is persistent yearly growth in the number of youths who use drugs and become addicted. The activities of drug traffickers and peddlers, which seem to have overwhelmed law enforcement agencies, and the construction of local drug manufacturing laboratories within and around our communities have made these dangerous drugs readily available for our youths. There has been an increase in reported cases of mental health challenges, premeditated killings, homicides, kidnappings, cult activities, mob actions and other antisocial behaviours committed under the influence of several types of dangerous drugs that are currently circulating in our communities. As a result, the huge costs it has placed on our families and the entire community have become increasingly intolerable. Besides constitutional prohibitions on drug trafficking and its use, youth bodies and vigilante groups have recently adopted public flogging as corporal punishment, all in the bid to discourage drug use and its effects on the community. The positive result of this punishment strategy is still under debate. This paper relied on various social media graphic presentations and outcry against heinous drug-induced crimes in our communities, reports from mainstream media, discussions provoked by the menace of drug abuse in many academic fora, as well as, personal life experiences, to call for the urgent need to design effective community intervention strategies to curb the growing trend. Besides exposing afresh the effects of drug abuse both on the victim and on the entire community, this paper raises alarm for an urgent need to halt the influx of our young people into the drug world through organizing regular awareness creation campaign against drug abuse, in schools, churches and within the community.

Key words: Community intervention, Drug abuse, Substance abuse, Youth development,

Introduction:

World drug report 2021 released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that around 275 million people used drugs worldwide within the previous year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders

Population in many parts of the world is relatively young. Available data shows that in 2016, more than 4 in every 10 people worldwide were younger than 25 years old. This translates to 42% of the world population being younger than 25 years old. Europe had the lowest proportion of its population (27%) under 25 while Africa had the highest proportion (60%t), (World Drug Report 2018). Drug use is much higher among young people than older people. Young people are typically more exposed to harmful Drugs than older people. It fallows then that young people consume more harmful drug/substances than other categories of the population. Various studies in Africa indicates that more than half of the population of young people under 25 years are regular drug users.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Morojele, Ramsoomar, Dumbili and Kapiga (2021), stated that about 50% of young people (12-19 years) use at least one psychoactive substance, and that the prevalence of substance use varies by region and type of drug. Alcohol according to them is the most commonly used drug and approximately 22.5 million adolescents aged, 12–19 years, are current drinkers. According to their study, 50% of adolescent drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking (HED), i.e. consumption of 60g of pure alcohol per sitting at least once per month, which is particularly linked to acute alcohol problems. About one in four adolescents use tobacco, while inhalants and cannabis as well as cocaine and heroin are less commonly used by adolescents. Over the counter (OTC) prescription drugs such as tramadol is an emerging problem in SSA (Idowu, Aremu, Olumide & Ogunlaja, 2018).

The UNODC reports (2018) showed that Nigeria has one of the highest drug prevalence in West Africa. The drug use prevalence in Nigeria, for ages 15 to 64 is approximately 14.4 which is almost three times the global drug use prevalence of 5.5 per cent. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said in their 2021 statistical report that 40 per cent of Nigerian youth between 18 and 35 years are deeply involved in the abuse of drugs. The implication of this figures is that drug abuse is almost getting to an epidemic proportion. The National Drug Use Survey in 2019 reveals that in Nigeria, over 10 million people abused cannabis in one year.

Drugs affect young people in every part of the world in diverse ways. Young people may use drugs, or may be involved in the cultivation and production of drugs, or be used as couriers. There are many factors at the personal, micro (family, schools and peers) and macro (socioeconomic and physical environment) levels that combine to render young people more vulnerable to substance use. Most research suggests that as early as 12 years to about late 17 years, is the critical risk period for the initiation of young people into substance use and that 18–25 years is the pick period (TED report, 2014).

Many young people use drugs to cope with the social and psychological challenges that they may experience during different phases of their development from adolescence to young adulthood. This may include the need to feel good or simply to socialize or to feel belonged, others may be coping mechanism in the face of adverse experiences, such as the physical and sexual abuse and other forms of exploitations and social maladjustments (Shedler & block,1990).

In the US, just like in other parts of Europe, studies have demonstrated that the volume of crime committed by drug users is far greater than anyone had previously imagined. Drug-related crime can at times be exceedingly violent, and that the criminality of street-drug users is far beyond the control of law enforcement agents (Inciardi, Martin, & Butzin, 2004). Overall findings conclude that, although the use of heroin, cocaine, crack, and other illegal drugs does not necessarily initiate criminal careers, drug use does intensify and perpetuate criminal activity. That is, drugs seem to lock users into patterns of criminality that are more acute and enduring than those of other offenders. It has also been reported that perhaps two thirds of those entering US state and federal correctional facilities have histories of substance abuse (Mumola. 1999).

Drug abuse is a serious public health problem in contemporary Nigeria. It is a major risk factor to morbidity and death as well as disability among young people in Nigeria. Aside from using cannabis (Dumbili, 2020a; Nelson, 2021), many young Nigerians also abuse prescription drugs such as tramadol and codeine other legal drugs such alcohol and tobacco. Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) has also recently been added their drug repertoire. Social media reports within the past few months exposed the level of consumption of Crystal Meth (Mkpuru Mmiri) by young people, and the extent it has penetrated our communities, and the physical, psychological and emotional effects it has on the young people and on the community at large.

The Word Drug Report made it clear that both the range of drugs and drug markets are expanding and diversifying as never before. That the international community needs to step up its responses to cope with these challenges (World Drug Report, 2018). It maintained that markets for cocaine and methamphetamine are extending beyond their usual regions and that non-medical use of prescription drugs has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. The opioid crisis in North America is rightly getting attention, however, as the World Drug Report shows, there is need to raise the alarm about addiction to tramadol of which are soaring in parts of Africa. Non-medical use of this opioid painkiller, which is not under international control, is also expanding in Asia. At the same time, more new psychoactive substances are being synthesized and more are available than ever, with increasing reports of associated harm and fatalities. These threats to health and well-being, as well as to security, safety and sustainable development, demand an urgent response.

What is drug?

Drug can be conceptualized from different perspectives to serve the purpose for which the writer intended. Generally speaking, drug is any substance (other than food) that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal conditions. It is a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases. A drug is a medicine or other substances which have a physiological or psychological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. Many drugs are highly addictive and are therefore taken under prescription. The addictive substances in prescription drugs can affect a person’s mental or physical state and cause changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This makes them unpredictable and dangerous, when they are abused. For instance, antibiotics, cough syrups (codeine, tramadol) and cannabis (marijuana) are drugs that can be taken under normal prescription, but outside prescription, it becomes an abuse and harmful. According to Addiction Center (2022), drugs can be broadly classified based on their effects: such as Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens and Inhalants.

Stimulants

Stimulant drugs are also known as “uppers,” they are said to provide a “rush.” They are those drugs that excite body functions, by specifically stimulating the brain and central nervous. Their primary use is to increase energy, concentration, and wakefulness. They can make a person feel more alert and confident. Stimulants elevate mood, increase speech and decrease appetite (Persons, 2004). In the short term, they are believed to increase productivity and performance. In the long term, stimulants are incredibly addictive and have a very high potential for abuse. Some stimulant drugs include Caffeine, Nicotine, Cannabis, Crystal Meth (mkpuru mmiri) and cocaine.

Depressants

These drugs are more commonly referred to as “downers,”. Depressants drugs create feelings of relaxation and tiredness. They are drugs that slow down the activities of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which reduce a person’s alertness, and also slows down functions such as breathing and heart rate. While many serve legitimate purposes in the fight against mental illness and sleep deprivation, they are very commonly abused because they may also create feelings of euphoria (highness). Depressants are not just the only most highly addictive drugs, but they are also some of the most highly dangerous and are likely to cause overdose and addiction. It is linked to a wide range of mental health issues from depression to memory loss and to suicide. Depressant drugs include: Alcohol, Opiates (Opium or opioids, Morphine, Codeine, Heroin), Barbiturates (Amobarbital; Amytal, Butabarbital; Butisol, Pentobarbital; Nembutal, Secobarbital; Seconal)

Hallucinogens

These class of drugs alter the user’s perception of reality. Often this results in auditory and visual hallucinations, a process known as “tripping” (acting or thinking crazy thoughts, feeling high and cool). It makes users experience a rush of good feeling and makes feeling more intense, ecstasy for instance, increases heart rate and can cause dry mouth, clenched teeth, blurred vision, chills, sweeting or nausea. It can make someone anxious, confused and paranoid (like someone is plotting against you or trying to hurt you). These drugs can overheat the body during dancing or other activities, which can lead to seizures, muscle breakdown; kidney, liver, and heart damage. Users of hallucinogenic drugs think it will make them feel good and keep them going for days, but their immediate impacts are generally more severe and dangerous. Some of them like ecstasy are both stimulants and hallucinogenic. Examples of Hallucinogen drugs include: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) which can come in colourless white powder or liquid, tablet or capsule. Ecstasy: (Methylenedioxymethemphetamine) also called designer drug because it was created for highness, and tramadol.

Inhalants

These are vast range of chemicals that are ingested primarily by breathing them in. Most inhalants are commonly used materials that are in no way designed to be ingested by humans. There are incredible varieties of inhalants that produce feelings of “highness”. While they tend to be less addictive than many other substances, the use of inhalants is incredibly dangerous and cause many serious health defects. Examples of commonly abused Inhalants include: Paint thinner, Nail polish remover, Gasoline. Sewage, etc.

However, people react to drugs differently because of variations in psychological and biological make-up. These differences in body make-up moderate the level or extent to which drugs affect individuals. For instance, cannabis may act as a stimulant to some users as well as depressant to others. Many users of cannabis have displayed overt restlessness, elevated mood, alertness, increased, appetite, speech, energy, productivity and performance while other users may at the same time feel cool, relaxed, happy, tired, speechless, forgetfulness, decreased appetite, and more likely to hallucinate. Yet, some users have temporarily “ran mad” (paranoid) rather than feel cool after using cannabis, crack or Crystal Meth (mkpuru mmiri). This is why abusing drugs is particularly harmful especially for the newly initiated, because it effects one in ways that may be irreversible.

Signs of Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse is the excessive, maladaptive, or addictive use of drugs for nonmedical purposes despite social, psychological, and physical problems that may arise from such use. One is said to be abusing drug when the substance is consumed often, and in larger amounts or over longer period than is intended, sometimes with persistent but unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control its use. The following are signs of drug abuse and addiction:

• Struggling with Limits: This happens when a consumer starts having difficulties in controlling substance-taking behavior i.e. inability to control the desire or sense of compulsion to take the substance, the level of use and termination.
• Progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of psychoactive substance use.
• Increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take the substance or to recover from its effects.
• Persisting with substance use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences, depressive mood states consequent to heavy use, or drug related impairment of cognitive functioning.
• Evidence of gradual increase in doses of the psychoactive substance in order to achieve effects originally produced by lower doses.
• A physiological withdrawal state when substance use has ceased or reduced, (withdrawal syndrome)

Factors that give rise to drug abuse

Drug use among young people differs from one country to the other and depends on the social and economic circumstances of those involved. Two contrasting settings illustrate the wide range of circumstances that drive drug use among young people.

Environment/setting: drugs are used in recreational settings to add excitement and enhance the experience; on the other hand, young people living in extreme conditions use drugs to cope with their difficult circumstances. The typologies of drugs used in these two different settings are quite different. Club drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, LSD (Lysergic Acid diethylamide) and GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) are used in high-income environments. Among young people living on the street, the most commonly used drugs are likely to be inhalants, which can include paint thinner, petrol, paint, correction fluid and glue. Young persons who are raised in cult-gang-crime-infested ghettos are more likely to use drugs than those who grow up in cities.

Coping with harsh conditions: Many young people are exposed to physical and sexual abuse, and substance use is part of their coping mechanism in the harsh environment they are exposed to. The substances they use are frequently selected for their low prices, and widespread availability and ability to rapidly induce a sense of highness.

Pleasure, fun or Sensation-seeking: pleasure-seeking motivates substance abuse (Brecht et al., 2004). According to Anglin et al. (2000, p.137), ‘‘the alertness, euphoria, and sense of wellbeing’’ that some drugs such as Crystal Meth generates ‘‘last considerably longer than similar effects resulting from cocaine use because, the drug is metabolized by the body at a much slower rate’’.

Heighten sexual pleasure: Among Malaysian men, the main motivations for using methamphetamine include, to enhance ‘‘sexual capacity, heighten sexual pleasure and enhance sexual exploration and adventurism’’, they also use it to enhance their energy for work performance (Lim et al., 2018, p.1). In the USA, studies have reported that enhancing sexual urge and pleasure motivate methamphetamine use (Sexton et al., 2006), while the drug’s easy availability and affordability have been described as the drivers among those who use the substance to self-treat chronic pain and emotional problems (Hansen et al., 2021).

Availability/affordability: Many harmful drugs that are commonly abused such as alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, Crystal Meth and inhalants are readily available and affordable in most part of the world. Young people therefore are easily initiated into abusing these substances. Some inhalants are naturally existing substances that may not be bought with money. Users who have money can easily place order through phone call and all variety they need will be brought to them in what location they choose.

Compromise by Law enforcement agents: the law seems to be for interested in low income users than high income users. A lot of rich politicians, celebrities, professionals, etc. living in high income locations are usually not harassed and in fact use these drugs in the presence of their aids and official security guards. Law enforcement agents are usually seen in motor parks, brothels, student lodges, ghettos, local bars/joints harassing and arresting users. This somewhat official permission of the rich to use drug will embolden the suppliers to continue to be in business.

In summary, the path from initiation to harmful use of substances among young people is influenced by factors that are often out of their control. Factors such as poverty, lack of opportunities, isolation, lack of parental involvement and social support, negative peer influences and poorly equipped schools are more common among those who develop problems with substance use than among those who do not.

What are the effects of drug abuse on youths?

Youths are vulnerable to the effects of substance use and are at increased risk of developing long-term consequences, such as mental health disorders, underachievement in school, and higher rates of addiction.

Mental Health Disorder

Mental health problems such as depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal, and other psychosocial dysfunctions are frequently linked to substance abuse among youth. It increases the risk of injury and death from interpersonal violence, road accidents, risky sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancy, diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and academic problems. Some highly addictive drugs like cocaine, crystal meth etc. are associated with many negative outcomes, which includes anxiety, cardiac arrest, hallucinations, insomnia, paranoia, stomach cramps, and stroke (Anglin et al., 2000; Brecht et al., 2004). Other consequences are depression, convulsions/seizures (Sommers et al., 2006), violent/aggressive behaviour, (Degenhardt et al., 2008; Sexton et al., 2006). Drug-abusing youth are at higher risk than nonusers for misconduct, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts etc. Marijuana use, which is prevalent among youth, has been shown to interfere with memory, learning, and psychomotor skills. Motivation and psychosexual/emotional development also may be influenced (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992). The current use of methamphetamine (Crystal Meth or “mkpuru mmiri”) and its effect on our youth is a clear indication of self-destructive tendencies inherent in drugs and substance use. Instead of contributing to the development of the community, they rather engage in destroying lives and constituting general nuisance to their families and society at large.

Physical Injuries

Injuries resulting from accidents, physical disabilities, and diseases are among the health-related consequences of drug abuse. These conditions can render victims of drug abuse partially or permanently dependent of the family and therefore useless to the community and society at large. A good number of youth addicted to drugs face an increased risk of death through suicide, homicide, accident, and illness. Around the world, we have documented cases of musicians, football legends, professionals in different fields who are incapacitated or have died as a result of drug abuse. Big names like Michael Jackson who died at the age of 50 in 2009, Whitney Houston at the age of 48 in 2012, Heath Ledger at the age of 28 in 2008, Philip Seymour Hoffman at the age of 46 in 2014. Others are Amy Winehouse who dies at the age of 27, Anna Nicole Smith who died at the age of 39, Chris Farley, who died at the age of 33, River Phoenix who also died at the age of 23, the list is endless. According to a study published in 2016, most celebrities die between the age of 25 and 40. The number of drug-related deaths increased in the 21st century, with a significant increase in the use of drugs.

Our case in this part of the world is worse. Apart from Baba Suwe, Majek Fasheck, Baba Fela, who have had drug relate issues all through their lives, there are undocumented number of persons who have died or permanently incapacitated as a result of drug abuse. Many of our young people are consistently manifesting/presenting symptoms and evidences of drug abuse through their appearances and mannerisms. For example, emaciated physical appearance, dreadlock, filth, indecent dressing, foul and abusive language etc., have been identified as signs associated with substance abuse. All these have obviously become fad among our young people.

Drugs distorts the psychological balance of those who abuse them. Day-dreaming, hallucination, over-exaggerated sense of capacity or energy, distorted vision, lack of sense of judgement, calculation and balance. All these can be very injurious to both the victim and the society at large. Many drug-abusing youth engage in behaviors that place them at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Drug use increases the risk of unplanned pregnancy, maternal complications and poor birth outcome among young girls. It is also associated with violence, including bullying, intimate partner violence (IPV), and sexual assault Morojele, Ramsoomar, Dumbili and Kapiga (2021). These limited examples illustrate the catastrophic health-related consequences of drug abuse among young people. Besides personal and family distress, additional healthcare costs and loss of future productivity place burdens on the community.

Underachievement in School

Declining grades, absenteeism from school and other activities, and increased potential for dropping out of school are problems associated with drug abuse. Hawkins, Catalano, and Miller (1992) cite research indicating that a low level of commitment to education and higher truancy rates appear to be related to substance use among adolescents. Cognitive and behavioral problems experienced by alcohol and drug-using youth may interfere with their academic performance and also present obstacles to learning for their classmates (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992). No student can perform optimally under constant influence of harmful drug. This is because, under its influence, understanding and general coordination needed for learning activities is impossible. For instance, under the influence of drug, one is bound to lose concentration during teaching and learning, understanding what is being taught will be a problem, ability for constructive and critical reasoning will be lost, ability to easily recall what has been taught will be difficult, timely submission of assigned duties, being a good team/class member and maintaining the capacity for normal academic rigors will consistently be problematic. The resultant effect will be gradual loss of interest in school activities, truancy and dropout. The bottom line is that no meaningful learning can take place under conditions of drug abuse, be you an apprentice, college, or university student.

Effect on Peers Group Relationship

Substance-abusing youth often are alienated from and stigmatized by their peers. Young people using drugs and other substances also often disengage from school and community activities, depriving their peers and communities of the positive contributions they might otherwise have made. They rather congregate among themselves (birds of a feather) most time clandestinely. This clandestine drug-using youths most times gradually metamorphose into criminal terror gangs and cult groups and become additional burden rather than assets to the community.

Effect on family

In addition to personal adversities, the abuse of alcohol and other drugs by young people may result in family crises and jeopardize many aspects of family life, sometimes resulting in family dysfunction. Both siblings and parents are profoundly affected by alcohol- and drug-involved family member (Nowinski, 1990). Substance abuse can drain a family’s financial and emotional resources (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992).

Social and Economic Consequences

The social and economic costs related to youth substance abuse are high. They result from the financial losses and distress suffered by alcohol- and drug-related crime victims, increased burdens for the support of adolescents and young adults who are not able to become self-supporting, and greater demands for medical and other treatment services for these youth (Gropper, 1985).

Delinquency

There is an undeniable link between substance abuse and delinquency. arrest, adjudication, and intervention by the juvenile justice system are eventual consequences for many youths engaged in alcohol and other drug use. It cannot be claimed that substance abuse causes delinquent behavior or delinquency causes alcohol and other drug use. However, the two behaviors are strongly correlated and often bring about school and family problems, involvement with negative peer groups, a lack of neighborhood social controls, and physical or sexual abuse (Hawkins et al., 1987; Wilson and Howell, 1993). Possession and use of alcohol and other drugs are illegal for all youth. Beyond that, however, there is strong evidence of an association between alcohol and other drug use and delinquent behavior of juveniles. Substance abuse is associated with both violent and income-generating crimes by youth. This increases fear among community residents and the demand for juvenile and criminal justice services, thus increasing the burden on these resources. Gangs, drug trafficking, prostitution, and growing numbers of youth homicides are among the social and criminal justice problems often linked to adolescent substance abuse.

Intervention Strategies

Drug abuse and addiction is wedging a serious war against our young people, our family, community and the entire society. This has become a very serious issue to all societal stake holders and has called for urgent and concerted intervention at all levels of the society. The individual, family, community, and government agencies have collaborative roles to play to combat the menace.

At the Individual Level

There is need for young people to understand themselves as they develop from one stage to the other developmental. Understanding themselves will help them make the right decisions at every critical stage. Young people try to enter the adult world especially as they perceive it within their immediate environment as they grow up. They are not always properly guided by their significant others and so are trapped in the adverse consequences and dangers inherent in the choices they have wrongly made. Young people as they grow up need to understand that they don’t need to taste Marijuana, cocaine, Crystal Meth, Codeine, assorted types of alcoholic drinks/spirits, and cigarettes to become men, feel belonged, become strong, or accomplish tasks. At the individual level, they should be wise enough to analyze the lives of those who have engaged in these habits over time to come to the conclusion that they need not try at all. It is true that environment and peer pressure greatly influence choices but individual wisdom, self-control and determination can help moderate individual indulgence in such harmful intake.

Young people need to know that all drugs, especially un-prescribed ones are harmful to the body. Although the desired effects are felt immediately, the harmful effects manifest at long run depending on an individual’s body chemistry. Young people need to know that under the influence of drugs, your creativity is limited, ingenuity is clouded, innovation is no longer possible, laziness gradually sets in, criminal and antisocial tendencies are contemplated. They need to know without being told that drug/substance abuse is a crime and can lead to other antisocial behaviours. One can be apprehended, convicted and sent to jail and your life will likely be ruined. They need to be aware that indulgence in drug/substance use is hurting a lot of people around them especially your immediate family members.

At the family level  

Families need to wake up to their primary duties. It is argued that lots of ills in the wider society stem from the family. The family seem to have lost its grip on its members. Many parents have become too busy to inculcate appropriate values into their children. Many modern parents are even confused on the right values to teach them because we are all products of family dysfunction. Young persons in the family learn more through observation and modelling the behaviours of significant others (parents). What do you then expect of a child who observes his father or mother, elder brother or sister drinking and smoking or their pattern of dressing and manner with which they speak to each other? Most parents do not know the whereabouts of their teenage children for the better part of their everyday life and may likely be ill-disposed to ask. If parents do not have control over a child’s movement, dressing, communication pattern, relationships, he may likely not know when he started manifesting symptom of drug abuse of addiction. Parenting is demanding. Parents and grown-ups within the family setting should be committed to it. Our young people must be made aware of the dangers of drug/substance abuse right from the family.

At the school level

School is another vital socialization agent. This is where children from different homes come together for learning under a teacher whose duties is to educate the children and direct their behaviour. Children themselves associate among themselves to become friends, form cliques, gangs or cult (as the case may be), and influence each other positively or negatively. In addition to learning, the school system is expected to inculcate the right societal values on the young ones and expose them to the dangers of drug abuse and ensures that they don’t have access to it. Today many cult groups with drug addicted members starts from our secondary schools, to the extent that they have become a menace to the school administration with the attendant result of expulsion of the students involved as the only solution. This is pathetic because, our school which is next in line to the family has as well failed to nip drug abuse in the bud, rather they push them into the society through expulsion where they take the act to the next level. Our secondary schools should have been a veritable platform where awareness campaign against drug/substance abuse should be organized through seminars, workshops, symposiums, conferences, etc. this is where we should catch them young and panel-beat them to become conforming and contributing members of the community.

At the community level

The community seems to be the dumping ground for all the consequences of our failed family and institutional roles and duties. An integrated community-based intervention for preventing the use of harmful drugs and other substances among youth has been suggested. Johnson et al, (2007) in their evidence-based study presented three level intervention components (1. Community mobilization; 2. Environmental strategies; and 3. A school-based prevention education) that combine to form a comprehensive community prevention intervention to combat the use of harmful substances among young people and ensure proper integration.

Community mobilization

This strategy is designed to increase community readiness to engage in prevention activities and actions to reduce the use of harmful drugs among youth. At this first stage, the consciousness of the community members is raised to the level of being clearly aware of the enormity of the problem of substance abuse, and so become sufficiently provoked into action and ready to bear the responsibilities of their actions. Preliminary assessment is made to understand the past and present circumstances surrounding drug use in the community and the extent of its resistance to previous interventions. This specific knowledge is needed to help throw more light on the problem for a more comprehensive and enduring future intervention strategy. Here, key individual stake-holders, organizations and agencies in the community are activated. Such as the Igwe and his council, the PGs, the youth bodies, vigilante, police, schools, members of diaspora, traders in the local market, teachers, local news outlets, etc. Strategic use of the news media and other local forms of public communication is an essential aspect of this plan to motivate community policy makers, police, parents, neighborhood members, and retail merchants to be involved with community prevention interventions of drug abuse among the young people. It is important that the result of the mobilization effort is disseminated to the community leaders and to all other stakeholders through all available local news outlets. This will further introduce trust and inclusiveness that are key to sustaining mobilization and action.

Environmental Strategies

Environmental factors, such as the availability of harmful substances, are important determinants of youth substance use and abuse. Environmental strategies focus on changing community systems rather than individual behavior; using the local news media to target community leaders or organizations rather than attempt to change individual behavior through media messages; viewing the community as a resource to mobilize for system change; seeking either to reduce supply or associated risk rather than reduce demand for drugs (Gruenewald et al., 2003).  This strategy is intended to alter the larger social, physical, and economic environment of a community in order to reduce the use of harmful substances. In this framework, three environments are targeted: retail stores, homes, and schools. This component is designed to enable retailers, parents, and school officials to take actions intended to reduce the availability of harmful legal products to youth.

The retail-focused strategy includes practical actions for legal or repentant illegal retailers to take into partnership with their community. These actions include: 1 identifying and taking inventory of high-risk legal products; e.g. codeine, tramadol and Marijuana 2 developing written store policies regarding sales of harmful legal products, 3 posting warning labels or signs, 4 controlling display and availability, 5 substituting lower-risk products and 6 restricting sales to youth.

Home environment strategy suggests that parents should communicate clearly with their children regarding the dangers and problems of using harmful legal and illegal substances. There is the need to have clear family rules about using substances to attain highness, and the ability to monitor compliance with these rules. Legal products that can be abused by youth are commonly found in the home. Inhalants such as gasoline, glue, and solvents are readily available. Over-the-counter prescription drugs are readily available and parents need to be aware of the potential for abuse if there is to be appropriate monitoring. Identifying and using willing parents to engage other parents at the community level is also a good strategy for a comprehensive result

School Environment Strategy

There are wide range of supplies in schools which have the potential to be inhaled and thus abused, including paints, glues, correction fluid, other solvents, concentrated alcohol products (including cleaners) and many others. Some substances can be found in typical classrooms, while others in specialized classes (e.g., shop or vocational classes, art classes, and others) as well as cafeterias, school stores and laboratories. As with the retail environment, it is critical to identify high-risk products within the school environment as well as determining how they are stored and accessed. Staff must also be aware and able to identify these substances.  The school administration should place limits on availability and use of legal harmful products within the school environment that youth may use to get high through enforcement of safety measures.

School-Based Youth Prevention Education

School-based education of youth has a long history as a strategy to reduce child and youth use and abuse of drugs and it is included in this conceptual framework. There is empirical evidence that the Life Skills Training (LST) increases cognitive-behavioral skills, decreases the motivations to use drugs, and decreases vulnerability to social influences that promote drug use (Botvin, Griffin, Diaz, & Ifill-Williams, 2001; Griffin, Botvin, Nichols, & Doyle, 2003).  This component of community prevention intervention is concerned with the reduction of youth desire for use of harmful legal and illegal drugs and substances. The primary means of intervention here is school-based education from where information about risks and local norms, as well as life skills, for resisting social influences to inhale or ingest harmful drugs/substances are learnt. These skills are taught using a combination of techniques including demonstration, behavioral rehearsal, feedback, reinforcement, and behavioral homework assignments (Botvin et al., 2001; Griffin et al., 2003), as well as monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, newsletters, fact sheets, infographics, posters, and flyers, webinars, video, Social media (such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter)

In summary, we assume that if the availability of harmful legal products is reduced and youths’ cognitive—behavioral skills are increased, then the use of these products will decrease. Further, if consumption is reduced, it is hypothesized that there will be a decrease in negative consequences such as illegal activity and substandard school performance and health risks and deaths associated with use.

Conclusions

To combat youth’s addiction to drug and other substances, an integrated community prevention intervention is needed. This intervention must integrate the key elements of the community through; mobilization, environmental intervention in retail shops, home, and school, as well as classroom education. This community-focused prevention intervention, unlike single-targeted prevention programs, is designed to increase community involvement, to stimulate the implementation of environmental strategies to reduce the availability of potentially abusable legal and illegal drugs, and to increase cognitive and behavioral skills among students. Both reduced availability and students’ increased cognitive and behavioral skills are expected to decrease the intent to and actual use of harmful substances, which will decrease negative consequences. In some respects, the community intervention addresses both the supply and demand side of the abuse problem in complementary fashion.

Reference

Agency report (2021). 40% of Nigerian youth ‘deeply involved’ in drug abuse.  – NDLEA
July 19,  News agency of Nigeria

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