Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security

Abuse of drugs by youths and its detrimental effects on security in Lafia Metropolis have recently attracted public attention. Given this background, it is important to understand the factors that influenced youths to take to drugs and the extent to which involvement in drugs has affected security i...

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Main Authors: Moses U. Ikoh, Sam O. Smah, Innocent Okwanya, Uhembe A. Clement, Zuwaira A. Aposhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-01-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018823428
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spelling doaj-cdd919c1d47d45f0be78c6cd31e7ef982020-11-25T01:20:36ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402019-01-01910.1177/2158244018823428Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on SecurityMoses U. Ikoh0Sam O. Smah1Innocent Okwanya2Uhembe A. Clement3Zuwaira A. Aposhi4Federal University Lafia, NigeriaFederal University Lafia, NigeriaFederal University Lafia, NigeriaFederal University Lafia, NigeriaFederal University Lafia, NigeriaAbuse of drugs by youths and its detrimental effects on security in Lafia Metropolis have recently attracted public attention. Given this background, it is important to understand the factors that influenced youths to take to drugs and the extent to which involvement in drugs has affected security in the Metropolis and thus explore effective ways toward curbing it. A survey method was adopted with samples drawn from 10 political wards in the Metropolis. Questionnaires were administered on 520 respondents with a satisfactory response rate of 76.92%. Bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the responses. The findings revealed that drug abuse was significantly practiced in the Metropolis due to lack of parental control, easy access to drugs, and emerging street culture of gangsterism. The implications of these on urban security were noted on incessant scuffle and street fighting, increased confrontation with the police, accidents and injuries, and robbery and theft. The study, therefore, recommended the creation of awareness campaigns on the implications of drug use by youths, the strengthening of government institutions that are in charge of drug control to step up their strategies to curb illicit drug production and supply in the Metropolis, and ban the roaming of Almajiri boys and girls at night in the Metropolis.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018823428
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Moses U. Ikoh
Sam O. Smah
Innocent Okwanya
Uhembe A. Clement
Zuwaira A. Aposhi
spellingShingle Moses U. Ikoh
Sam O. Smah
Innocent Okwanya
Uhembe A. Clement
Zuwaira A. Aposhi
Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
SAGE Open
author_facet Moses U. Ikoh
Sam O. Smah
Innocent Okwanya
Uhembe A. Clement
Zuwaira A. Aposhi
author_sort Moses U. Ikoh
title Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
title_short Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
title_full Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
title_fullStr Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
title_full_unstemmed Factors Affecting Entry Into Drug Abuse Among Youths in Lafia Metropolis: Implications on Security
title_sort factors affecting entry into drug abuse among youths in lafia metropolis: implications on security
publisher SAGE Publishing
series SAGE Open
issn 2158-2440
publishDate 2019-01-01
description Abuse of drugs by youths and its detrimental effects on security in Lafia Metropolis have recently attracted public attention. Given this background, it is important to understand the factors that influenced youths to take to drugs and the extent to which involvement in drugs has affected security in the Metropolis and thus explore effective ways toward curbing it. A survey method was adopted with samples drawn from 10 political wards in the Metropolis. Questionnaires were administered on 520 respondents with a satisfactory response rate of 76.92%. Bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the responses. The findings revealed that drug abuse was significantly practiced in the Metropolis due to lack of parental control, easy access to drugs, and emerging street culture of gangsterism. The implications of these on urban security were noted on incessant scuffle and street fighting, increased confrontation with the police, accidents and injuries, and robbery and theft. The study, therefore, recommended the creation of awareness campaigns on the implications of drug use by youths, the strengthening of government institutions that are in charge of drug control to step up their strategies to curb illicit drug production and supply in the Metropolis, and ban the roaming of Almajiri boys and girls at night in the Metropolis.
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018823428
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