Indiscriminate proliferation and Dependence on drugs and Illicit Substances among Unemployed Adolescents in Nigeria: The Necessity to Create a New Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The frightening danger of the indiscriminate proliferation and dependence on drugs and illicit psychoactive substances among Nigeria’s teeming unemployed adolescent population, particularly in the northern geo-political zone was worrisome. This study was, therefore, an attempt to illuminate the overall consequences of the menace in order to create a new northern Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted, and a sample of 800 respondents was chosen through the simple random sampling technique. In reality, 1008 respondents were drawn in all; each of the six selected states, namely, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Niger, Kano, and Kebbi (covered the three zones: North East, North Central, and North West), recruited 168 respondents. The simple linear regression statistical analysis was employed to test the core hypothesis formulated. From findings, the study showed that illicit drug proliferation and addiction to psychoactive substances included cardiovascular disease, cancer, hepatitis, lung disease, and mental disorders, amongst others. In addition, the study also revealed that individuals struggling with drug addiction suffer from central nervous system, distortions, perception, sleeplessness, anxieties, increased chance of experiencing a heart attack, and other hazards. Since government can no longer turn a blind eye to this epidemic, the study concluded that a holistic approach to the drug problem more than ever before is the way out of the menace. From this, the study drew the attention of government, organizations, parents, and many other stakeholders to engage professionals to help individuals struggling with addiction problem through a comprehensive counseling and rehabilitation process that will seriously reduce the problem. Further, the government should convoke a colloquium on education to give a realistic idea of how low the educational standard has dipped and therefore be in a position to realistically formulate policies to salvage these adolesc

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