A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
ON
AWARENESS ON DRUG ABUSE AND ITS EFFECTS AMONG
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KONMTAGORA LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE
SUBMITTED TO
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA KADUNA STATE
SUBMITTED BY
DAUDA MARKUS
ABDULSALAM TOHHEB
IBRAHIM YUSUF
AROWOSAFE OLUBUNMI PATIENCE
HAMZAT RASHEEDAT JIMOH
MUSTAPHA DA’IDU MARIYAH
U17KS1011
U17KS1015
U18KS2003
U18KS2009
U18KS2012
U15FKS1061
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE
DEGREE OF B(ED) SOCIAL STUDIES
SUPERVISE BY
Mal. Mohammed Bawa
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Introduction
Alcohol and other related substance abuse and dependence is now one of the most
frequently occurring adjustment disorders in adolescents, young adults, and the general public or
populace. In fact, alcohol and other related substance use disorders are the most prevalent form
of psychiatric disorder in the United States (Rivers & Shore, 1997). Although all age groups are
affected by this pervasive difficulty, adolescents and young adults are particularly heavily
affected. A substantial proportion of the adolescent population uses drugs or alcohol to the extent
that their health, interpersonal relationships, or school performance is adversely affected
(Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 2003).
One of the problems faced by developing nations today, specifically Nigeria is the
growing number of individuals who are using or abusing substances including, illegal drugs,
alcohol, and tobacco. Although, it has been noted that the overall consumption of drugs in the
Nigeria has declined by 30% in the past 20 years, the past 10 years have revealed some increase
in drug abuse among youths (Ejikeme, 1999; Adebiyi, 2003). In the case of alcohol use and drug
abuse, Stephen (1998) states that polls of youth indicate that nine out.
Of ten youths drink alcohol to some extent by the time they finish high school, and a
majority have used illegal drugs. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource
Center (2002), teenage consumption of alcohol is a serious problem in Africa and other
developing countries. Recent survey revealed that 52% of eighth graders (and 80% of highschool seniors) have used alcohol at some time (Michigan University Institute for Social
Research, 2000). The research also found that 25% of eighth graders (and 62% of high-school
seniors) have been drunk. Furthermore, while it is illegal for minors to be given access with
alcoholic drinks, it seems that such restriction has no, if only little, effect. The MUISR (2000)
also found that 71% of eighth graders and 95% of high-school seniors say that they have easy
access to alcohol.
Statement of the Problem
A vast majority of youths take substance abuse as a casual thing. They are not aware that
it is more of a depressant than a stimulant and that continuous intake of such substances even in
small quantities lead to undesirable consequences. Substance abuse can be a false friend. It plays
a major part in illness, premature death and traffic accidents (Howard, 1995). Some youths claim
that substances are good because it is a way of fun rising. Youths further indicated that they are
making transition from drinking patterns characteristics of adulthood because it is now a
common practice to serve alcoholic drinks as a gesture of hospitality and to facilitate
interpersonal relationships.
Research Questions
1. What are the factors influencing youths to abuse substances?
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2. What is the level of knowledge and perception of youths about abuse of substances?
3. What are the effects of substance abuse on youths?
Research Objectives
The purpose of the study is to identify the effect of drug abuse, alcohol and other
related substances and factors that influence Students to use and abuse these substances.
Specifically, this study aimed to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Identify factors influencing youths to abuse substances in Kontagora Local Government;
Assess attitudes, knowledge and perception of Students on abuse of substances;
Determine the effect of substance abuse on Students;
Explore ways and means of preventing or reducing substance use and abuse by youths.
Significance of the Study
The finding of this study will be of the benefit to guidance and counseling teachers by
learning how to deal with students who abuse drugs. Policy makers in the ministry of Education
and other stakeholders will use this information on abuse of drugs in schools so as to form
appropriate policy decisions in abetting this vice that has a negative effect on academic
performance. Parents and guidance may benefit from this study to getting ideas on their
children’s intake of drugs so as to be better placed to ensure good upbringing of these children.
Finally, the study will open new research gaps that may be useful for future research initiative in
this area of study by scholars.
Operational definition of the Term:
Drugs: Any product other than food or water that effect the way people feel, think see and
behave, it is a substance that, due to its chemical nature, affects, mental and emotional
functioning. It can enter the body through chewing, inhaling, smoking, drinking, rubbing on the
skin or injection.
Drug Abuse: Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is the use of illegal
drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over the counter drugs. Drug abuse is a pattern of
behavior that displays many adverse results from continual use of a substance.
Drugs Abuse Awareness: Drug abuse awareness is stated as ability to perceive, to feel or to be
conscious of events, objects or sensory patterns regarding ill effect of drug. More broadly, it is
the state quality of being aware of drug abuse.
Research Design
According to Cooper and Schindler, (2006) a research design is a strategy for study and
the plan by which the strategy is to be carried out specifying the methods and the procedure for
the data collection, measurement, and analysis of data. This study employed a descriptive survey
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design as a method of collecting information by interviewing and administering a questionnaire
to a sample of individuals. This type of research design is useful when collecting information
about people’s attitudes, opinions, and habits Orodho, (2009). This therefore lay within the focus
of this study.
Target Population
Target population is defined as all the members of a real or hypothetical set of people,
events or objects from which a researcher wishes to generate the research study Creswell, (2005).
The researcher targeted form three students, their respective guidance and counseling teachers
and principals in the 32 public secondary schools in 4Kontagora Local Government Area of
Niger State.
Study Location
The study was carried out in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State Nigeria.
The researchers chose to carry out this study in Kontagora Local Government area since the area
has been registering poor results in national examinations, School dropout.
Sample Size and Sampling Procedure
Sample Size
A sample is any group on which information is obtained (Frankel et al., 2000). The
student total population was 1327 in the 32 sampled schools, 32 principals and 32 guidance and
counseling teachers. Gay, (2009) recommends that the minimum sample of a small population is
(30) percent while (10) percent can do for a big population; therefore, 10% of each target
population was computed to give a total sample size of 54
Sampling Procedure
Sampling technique refers to how cases are selected for observation Mugenda and
Mugenda, (2009). It provides a detailed explanation of the subject to be involved in the
investigation and how these are selected from the target group. Gay, (2009) recommends that the
minimum sample of a small population is (30) percent while (10) percent can do for a big
population. Orodho, (2009) notes that purposive sampling is hand-picking the cases to be
included in the sample based on ones judgment of the typicality.
Data Collection Procedure
The researchers obtained a permit from project supervisor to allow them conduct the
research. The researcher also sought an introductory letter from the Department to the schools
where the research was carried out. A visit to the schools where the research was carried out was
done and made appointments for questionnaires‟ administration. The interview schedules were
pre-arranged and appointments booked with the principal who was interviewed as the researcher
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filed the details in the interview schedules.
Data Analysis Techniques
The study employed descriptive analysis by use of means, percentages, and frequencies.
This method was useful in describing and documenting the state of affairs as they were.
Qualitative data that was obtained from the open ended sections of the questionnaire and
interviews were analyzed using the thematic approach. This is a5form of recognizing patterns
within the data where emerging themes become the categories for presentation and analysis
Strauss and Corbin, (1990).
The researcher conducted in-depth interviews to gather opinions of the teachers about use
of drugs in their schools and this information was used to beef up data collected using
questionnaires. The data was then organized, tabulated and analysed in frequency tables; means,
standard deviation, percentages and bar graphs with the help of the statistical package for social
sciences (SPSS) software.
References
Abudu, S. (2008): The Social Implications of Drug Abuse. A case Study of Lagos State. Being A
PhD Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan.
Barbara .B. (1993): Alcohol and Drugs and the Workplace .Toronto, Butterworths.
Caputo, T., Weiler, R., and Anderson, J. (1996): The Street Lifestyle Study. Health Canada.
Edwards, G. (2004). Matters of Substance- Drugs and why everyone’s a user. London: Penguin
Books
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