CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background to the study
The Problem of drug abuse has become a global issue of concern by any responsible government both in developed and under developing countries (Jatau, Sha'aban, Gulma, Shitu, Khalid, Isa, Wada, & Mustapha, 2021) Nigeria as a country has witnessed rising epidemic issues of substance abuse as a result of poor economic condition which rose to increasing youth unemployment, political crisis, ethno-religious conflict, poor policies of government to implement the real youth empowerment program living the youth in abject poverty, youth become a social problem and a tool for politicians to manipulate political process (Jibrin,2019)
Drug abuse has a detrimental impact on the society, it has led to increase in the crime rates, unemployment (no company would want to employ an addict) and school dropouts. In some countries like Nigeria, students caught taking drugs will be expelled thereby leading to an increment in out of school students, and Bowen University is an example of such universities (Oyedele, Chikwature, Opeoluwa & Kadenha, 2016). Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgment, egging one on to commit offense. Incidence of eve-teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. Apart from affecting financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18–35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable. The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is very high. Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young people’s behaviour (Iqura, 2017).
In Nigeria, this issue of drug abuse has been a serious concern for the society. Youths have taken to drug abuse. In recent times, the rate at which youths abuse drugs have been so alarming and worrisome that much effort has been made to eradicate it. As the youths are abusing drugs, the effort being made to eradicate it is losing strength. Drug abuse and addiction have destructive or devastating consequences but our youths are still into drugs. “Not only that it destroys the affected individual but it has a pervasive effect on all those who know or work with the individual (Barber, 1967 as cited in Odo, 2009).Drug addiction is a tragedy in our Nigerian society. In other to curb and reduce the rate of students abusing drugs, campaigns have been set out to reach them through various means, this study would focus on the impacts the campaigns have on abusers’ behavioural change and what medium(s) is best used in reaching students for effective result (Odo, 2009)
In 2018, Vice chancellor of Bowen University, Prof. Ogunwole Joshua started a campaign against the use of drugs by the students especially on the campus ground, his words exactly were, “Virtually every university, polytechnic and other higher institutions in Nigeria, whether we like it or not, is battling with drug and substance abuse either quietly or openly. It is alarming that out of the 14.3 million Nigerians said to be indulging in drug abuse, a large number comprises youths who are mostly students. This is capable of destroying the most productive parts of one’s life,” (Taiwo, May 14, 2019). The VC Bowen University (prof. Joshua Ogunwole) declared his zero tolerance for drug and expelled students found positive with substance in their body. He started an all-out campaign that included posters, seminars, programs and sermons on the consequences of taking drug to the students and the country at large.
The realization that communication interventions do not fall into a social vacuum, rather, information is received and processed through individual and social prisms that not only determine what people encounter (through processes of selective exposure), but also the meaning that they derive from the communication (known as selective perception), depending upon factors at both the individual (prior experience, efficacy beliefs, knowledge, etc.) and the macro-social (interpersonal relationships, cultural patterns, social norms) levels. Second, it is reasonable to expect discrepancies between messages disseminated and received. They arise not only due to differential exposure to the intervention but also because of the differences in interpretation in decoding information (Rajiv & Maria, April 1, 2009).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
There are number of biological, psychological, and social factors, called risk factors, that can increase a person’s likelihood of developing drug -abuse or drug dependency disorder which is why a drug abuse campaign is important to bring about behavioral change in the abusers of drugs (Zaman, Razzaq, Hassan, Qureshi, Ijaz, Hanif, Chughtai, 2015). Drug abuse among youths in Nigeria is now a common phenomenon; females are not exempt from this act. If our youths keep abusing drugs, what sort of future would our country have and what type of leaders would we have in the country. Which is why campaigns against them are important as a form of development communication, though different campaigns have been held on the effects of drug abuse, but how would the effectiveness be known if a study has not been done on it, this study would serve as a feedback mechanism to know if more work ought to be done, what areas are left hanging and what efforts and measures are meant to be put in place.
1.3 Research Objectives
The majour objective of this study is to assess the influence of drug abuse campaign on the behavioural change of Bowen university student, while the specific objectives are:
1 To examine the forms of campaign have been adopted in Bowen University to curb drug abuse
2 To examine student’s perceptions of the drug abuse campaigns done in the school
3 The study also aims to ascertain the influence of such campaigns on students
4 To investigate behavioural changes that occurred in students due to drug abuse campaigns.
1.4 Research Question
1 What forms of campaign have been done in Bowen University to curb drug abuse?
2 What are the perceptions of the students towards the drug abuse campaigns done in the school?
3 What are the influences of drug abuse campaigns on students?
4 What are the behavioural changes in students that occurred because of such campaigns?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study has its significance on students, university, Government organizations and non-government organizations and the society at large.
Drug abuse by students has its consequences; this study would further help youths understand the consequences of these drugs to their health and the people around them, while also stating measures in which they can further learn to deal with addictions. Universities across can learn from this study, using what works in this case study, Bowen University as a guide to eradicating the abuse of drugs on campus.
This study can serve as a guide for other developmental communications against drug abuse across the globe, through this study, organizations like world health organization (WHO), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), etc. get to know the medium(s) that is most effective when dealing with youths’ behavioural change.
To the Society, these youths are to be the leaders of tomorrow, what type of future would the economy have when our leaders are drug addicts. Drug Addiction has set the country back in growth wise; it is the foundation that leads to greater crimes like armed robbery, stealing and even in the worst-case murdering. Drugs have added to hooligans and thugs roaming the streets looking for someone to harass or abuse which is why campaigns against them are very important.
1.6 Justification of the Study
The study was carried out with the intention to find out the influence of drug abuse campaign on the behavioural change on students, the study is justified because drug abuse endangers the lives of youths by causing mental illness, depression and untimely death, also drug abuse affects the parents, the university and the society, campaigns like these would be highly beneficial, because drug abuse is an international problem, campaigns against them is a step towards solving it. The study would then find out the forms of campaign that is more effective in the fight against drug addiction and abuse.
1.7 Scope of the study
The scope of this study is students of Bowen University. The study sets out to examine the different campaign strategies that have brought about behavioural change to abusers of drugs. It also can be extended to the management to see if the result they intended to get is what they currently have.
1.8 Limitations to the study
One of the limitations to this study is that not a lot of students who had abused drugs before wanted to open up even though their identity would be hidden. Also, this study would have a sample size and would not cover the entire university’s population. Due to the high level of undergraduate research currently on going in the university, students were reluctant to filling more questionnaires. Another limitation to this study is that due to Bowen University’s strictness and stand against drug abuse, abusers of drugs have been expelled from campus and therefore could not be used for this study for better data.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
- Drug- A drug is a substance that can be taken into the human body and, once taken, alters some processes within the body. Drugs can be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease. (Sussman & Ames, 2008)
- Youth- According to the United Nations, a youth is as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years
- Drug Abuse/ Addiction- Drug abuse or addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite its harmful consequences. (Barerah, 2018)
- Drug Campaign- Creating awareness through various medium on the harmfulness of drug abuse or addiction.
