The youths form a major segment of the world’s population.
Most worrisome in recent times is the high rate of youth in drug abuse.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark 2022 International Youths Day, it is essential to take a look at the rationale behind youth’s involvement in drug abuse, its health and psychological implications as well as the ways of addressing the problem.
Drug abuse occurs when an individual consumes drugs that are either regulated or restricted by law.
In compliance with consumer protection policies, manufacturers of drugs and tobacco products give warnings on the dangers of continued consumption of drugs.
Uncontrolled consumption of drugs regardless of the harm done to the body has continued to generate concerns among key stakeholders.
Commonly abused drugs include cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, diazepam, codeine, cough syrup and tramadol.
Latest global estimates indicate that about 5.5 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years have used drugs at least once in the past year, while 36.3 million people, representing 13 per cent of the total number of persons who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders.
In Nigeria, with 14.4 per cent the drug use prevalence according to report is significantly higher than the global average.
Cannabis, according to findings, remains the most widely used illicit substance in the African Region, with the highest prevalence and increase in use being reported in West and Central Africa with rates between 5.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent.
From the World Health Organisation’s estimate, the harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year.
Alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol use disorder, AUD, reportedly killed over three million people each year, accounting for up to six per cent of global deaths.
Two residents of Ibadan expressed divergent views on the consumption of cannabis.
An Ibadan-based medical practitioner, Dr Ajibolu Oke said that drugs could reduce stress, enhance sleep, give energy, and make people feel good but has adverse effects such as seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage.
In an interview, a lecturer and clinical psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Dr Oluwafisayo Adebimpe, said younger people out of curiosity went into drug abuse.
While identifying exposure of youths to social media content, peer pressure and poor parenting as some of the factors that accounted for youth’s involvement in drug abuse, the clinical psychologist said drug abuse among the youths had led to mental illness and other social vices in the society
Dr Adebimpe advocated constant sensitization through media campaigns, lectures, availability of psychological clinics in all institutions and the need for parents to be alive to their responsibilities as some of the ways to overcome the challenge.
Bolanle Yaminu
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