Assessment of the Sociological and Health Implications of the Arbitrary use of Drugs and Illicit Substances by Youths in South East Nigeria: The Way Forward

Abstract

The main thrust of this study was to evaluate the sociological and health implications of drugs and illicit psychoactive substances and the resultant outburst of uprising in the southeast region by youths. The study is semi- qualitative because survey research design was employed and 1500 respondents selected through the judgmental sampling technique from the five states that constituted southeast, but analyzed qualitatively using percentage count distribution. In essence, in each state, 300 respondents were selected.Amongst the findings, the paper revealed that discrimination, marginalization and abandonment of youths in south east region have become very unpredictable due to the use of drugs and illicit psychoactive substances. Further, the paper revealed that the region has witnessed the gradual erosion of family values and also a fall in the educational development of many youths the government intended to rely on in driving the economy to the next level. The paper also showed several health challenges such as anxiety, headache and vomiting, mental illness, lung cancer, and premature deaths arising from substance use. Based on this, the paper concluded that the insurgency in the southeast powered by discrimination and marginalization was aided by the incessant abuse of drugs and illicit psychoactive substances. Following this, the paper recommended amongst others that the secessionist agitations posture against the Nigerian state by youths due to exclusion should be addressed urgently to salvage the future of youths and curtail their abuse of these illicit drugs/psychoactive substances. Again, parents/ guardians should adopt the Harm Reduction method through the use of persuasive messages to calm and reeducate the youths of the negative consequences of their action. Further, syringe supply, condoms, naloxone, Fentanyl testing as a form of assistance, and other medications to reduce overdose and even deaths

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