Drugs and Drugs Abuse in Nigeria: Youth and Adolescents Obsession

Drug abuse remains the major risk behaviour among youth and adolescents, with physical and mental health snags. Despite the known risks, drugs abuse is a risk factor associated with adolescents continue using these drugs. This paper reveals the prevalence of drug abuse among adolescent's youth in Nigeria, problems associated with drugs abuse and reasons why adolescents are vulnerable to drugs abuse. The paper used secondary method of data collection. Therefore, the study fine out that drug abuse causes a lot of risk among the adolescents; it results to gang formation, armed robbery, mental illness and cultism. Studies revealed that most of the drug addicts started smoking from their young age. As they grow older, they seek new thrills and gradually go into hard drugs. There was an indication that 65 percent of high school students used drugs to have good time, 54 percent wanted to experiment to see what it is like, 20-40 percent used it to alter their moods. The study therefore, recommend that Parents should sincerely re-orient their children on the dangers of drug abuse on their health and others, since charity, they say begin at home. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency must also intensify their anti-drug campaigns in order to have a drug free society with a special focus on the youth's and adolescents. The Ministry of Education (Federal and State) must add to their curricular a Drug-Education for both the primary and post primary schools, along with lectures, seminars, rallies, and film shows for the youth's and adolescents on the adverse effects of drug abuse.