AN ASSESSMENT OF NEWSPAPER IN CREATING AWARENESS AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN IKOT EKPENE URBAN

This study was carried out on the assessment of newspaper in creating awareness against drug abuse in Ikot Ekpene urban. The main objectives was to determine how newspaper enlighten the general public on drug abuse and to determine the extent to which newspaper awareness on drug abuse reduces the unlawful use of drug in Ikot Ekpene Urban. To find out the extent to which newspaper present adequate information on the effect of drug abuse to the people in the society. Population of this study, according to 2006 general census, the total number of the population in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area is 193,257 of which male adult were 61,257 and total number of female adult was 80,000. This study found the use of questionnaire as the most appropriate instrument for data collection and the data was carefully analyzed through the use of frequency table and simple percentage. Findings showed that newspaper present adequate information on the effect of drug abuse to the people in the society and it enlighten the general public on drug abuse therefore this awareness on drug abuse reduce the unlawful use of drug in Ikot Ekpene Urban. From findings, the study recommended that government should encourage the youth to always abide to the awareness contained in the news publication to enable the prevention of drug addict.