DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH IN JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT

DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH IN JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

World Health Organization view on substances and drug abuse “Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs”. Psychoactive substances use can lead to dependence syndrome – a cluster of behavioural cognitive and psychological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and that typically include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance and sometimes a physical withdrawal state.

Policies which influence the levels and patterns of substances use and related harm can significantly reduce the public health problems attributable to substance use and interventions at the health care system level can work towards the restoration of health in affected individuals.

The exact cause of substance abuse and drug abuse is not clear, with theories including a generic disposition, learned from others or a habit which if addiction develops, manifests as a chronic debilitating disease.

Drugs most often associated with this term include; alcohol, substituted amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazephines, (particularly alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam and clanazepam), cocaine, mothequalone, cannabis and opioids.

In many cases, criminals or anti-social behaviour occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long term personality changes in individuals may occur as well. In addition to possible physical, social and psychological harm, use of some rugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction substance abuse is widespread with an estimated 120 million users of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroine and other synthetic drugs. In 2013, drug use disorder resulted in 127,000 deaths up from 53,000 in 1990.

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