THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT

THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background To The Study

In recent times, the incidence of drug abuse is on the increase and experts in the area of drugs and health have indicated that if the trend of drug abuse is not controlled, the problems might aggregate into serious health problem. One sad aspect of this is that teenagers and children of school age are worst involved with this problem.

To say the least, the phenomenon of drug abuse is what individuals; government and society are generally interested in.

A drug is any substance that modifies body functions when taken into the organism.

A drug is a substance used for medical purposes, either alone or in mixture substance that changes the state of function of cells, organs or organism. Drugs are mood modifies which change the mood of individual per time. Drug abuse can be defined variously depending on the standpoint of the individual.

It could be seen as constant and indiscriminate use of both prescribed and legal and illegal drugs or the use of drugs without diagnosis and prescription, to an extent that it hinders ones health. Our health-oriented definition of drugs abuse is the self administration of a quantity or a pattern that impairs an individuals health or social or economic functioning.

Drug use and abuse or misuse is phenomenon, which has bothered, is bothering and will continue to bother mankind even in generation to come. Governments, religious organization, social groups, world bodies and concerned individuals in the world over are alarmed and indiscriminate and went on use and abuse of drugs and the implication to the individual health status. Drugs abuse world wind is said to have become a major social problems, which affect individuals at every socio-economic level as well as individuals in age group from the adolescent to the elderly.

For instance, Caliendo (1996) reports; an estimated 9.3-10.3 million U.S adults or 7% of the U.S. adult population are alcoholics or problems drinkers among teens and youth age 14-17 years old, this represents 19% of American youths.

The rate of alcoholic consumption is alarming.

Caliendo (1976) look at that; it has been estimated based on data obtained from USDH. Food balance sheet, that the average annual consumption of obsolete alcohol from beer, wine and spirit among the drinking age America public 2.6 gallons per individual. The caloric value of this quantity of alcohol is approximately 210 calories daily per son. The rate of alcohol consumption varies among individuals.

Many people do not consume any alcohol whereas many consume alcohol far in excess of the average. It is estimated, however that on the average, adult females in the United States derives to 10% of their RDA calories from alcohol whereas males obtain 7.5%.