Effects of drug abuse on youths’ education in Nasarawa state Nigeria

Abstract

The extent to which illicit drug dealings is aggravating crimes in Nigeria is worrisome. Drugs even as youths are seen latching on the bandwagon with foray into this dangerous acts within and outside the educational institutions. Drug abuse is an emerging global public health issue, it is a situation when drug is taken more than it is prescribed. It is against this background that this study interrogated the euphoria nature of the use drugs on youth’s education in Nasarawa states, Nigeria. Data were gathered using simple random sampling technic. The population of Nasarawa state is 2,523,400 approximately 2.5 million. The sample size is 399 based Taro Yamani formula for sample size. A total of 399 questionnaires were distributed amongst the students using the online questionnaire platform in four tertiary institutions while 210 was successfully retrieved & used as sample size Hypotheses were tested using chi square. The finding revealed that; there is a relationship between economic effect of drug abuse and youth education in Nasarawa state, there is a relationship between moral effect of drugs abuse and youth education in Nasarawa state and finally, there is a relationship between social effect of drugs abuse and youth education in Nasarawa state The study recommends among others that there should be intense media campaign aimed at enlightening the undergraduates such that Government should ensure that agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency are empowered or equipped. Finally, Educational Institutions at higher levels whether public or private should organize workshops and symposia to enlighten the students on the dangers of drugs abuse and illicit trafficking.