CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

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%.

This trend is similar globally.

ORIGIN OF DRUG USE AND ABUSE

The African society is a drug using one. We take in drugs daily as we eat food in form of herds, stems, roots, crops and cereal beverages. Ideally, we use drugs either in these aforementioned forms, or in refined forms for both preventive and curative purpose.

For certain ailments and diseases. In traditional African society which dates back even before recorded history, drugs are used daily for difference cultural and religious purpose of birth, death, marriage, and divorce rites.

Others are initiations into difference groups, appeasement of the gods. In concluding agreements for buying and selling of lands and landed property, apprenticeship agreements for teaching and learning of crafts and so on. Therefore, the use of drugs, in different forms and for different purpose permeates every facet of our traditional society and culture. Most of these drugs in their unrefined forms grow widely in our environment and hence there easy availability to the users. One can therefore say without fear of contradiction that the history of drugs abuse and misuse is as old as society itself or man.

The arrival of the ‘white men’ on the shores of African continent added yet more damaging drugs to the ones we already had and to that extent made the environment for drugs use and abuse friendly by easy availability and preference.

EFFECTS OF DRUGS USE AND ABUSE

According to Agwubike (1998) drugs are known to be chemical agents that affect living cells they are used in modern medicine, in the treatment of illness and disease.

Drug abuse has severe health implication. The incidence and severity of problems associated with the non-medical use of the drugs is incalculable. Alcoholism for instance is one of the most common types of under-nutrition in the adult. Excessive alcohol consumption is the primary factors related to the development of cirrhosis of the lever which according to Caliendo (1966), the ninth leading killer disease of the United States population.

Villabi et al (1991) report; Spain ranks second to France in international comparison of alcohol consumption, 52% of adults drinks daily, and mortality due to liver cirrhosis ranks as the sixth causes of death both in terms of death rates and potential years of life lost.

In addition to the liver problem and the nutritional, Caliendo (1976) has this to say, “Alcohol related deaths may reach as many as 205, 000 annually in the U.S. It has also been known to cause several health problem like congestion heart failure, high blood pressure, lose of appetite, inflammation of the stomach/pancreas, intestines which leads to nutrient matabsorption.

Another severe consequence of alcoholism worthy of mention is the effect it has on the offspring of a pregnant drinker. It is said in Britain alone that more than 44% of children born to alcoholic mothers had 10 below 80, as well as significantly higher rates of hearty and joint abnormalities.

Economically, it cost the government billions of petro-dollar if quantified in terms of man-hour lost as a result of drug associated problems. This affects our out-put by reducing productivity.

According to Caliendo (1976), … alcohol abuse in the United State cost almost $43 billion in 1975.

According to Agwubike (1998), a drug has damaging consequences to the body organ and systems e.g. some drugs damage the liver, kidney or adversely affect the central nervous system. In certain instances death may result. It also state ion his book that users of drugs spend a lot money in producing drugs to themselves.

DRUGS COMMONLY ABUSED

According to Agwubike 91998) drugs commonly abused by secondary school students are;

1.                  Amphetamines

2.                  Anabolic steroids

3.                  Marijuana

4.                  Cocaine

5.                  Heroine

6.                  Caffeine and others like alcoholic content etc. which have excitatory or inhibitory effect which are thought to enhance performance in sport by delaying the onset of fatigue or hasten recovery rate.

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