ASSESSMENT OF PRINT MEDIA IN CREATING AWARENESS AGAINST DRUG ABUSE: A STUDY OF BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT The study seeks to assess the role of print media in creating awareness against Drug Abuse: A Case Study of Benue State University Undergraduate Students. The study adopted a survey method and multi-stage sampling method involving simple random method. The study enrolled 400 participants, and a total of 395 respondents were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were students from various departments of Benue State University. Findings revealed that print media educate and enlighten the undergraduate students of Benue State University on the bad effect of drug abuse. Findings also revealed that, print media awareness creation on drug abuse has reduced the unlawful use of drugs among student of Benue State University. Also that, advert or commercial using fliers can easily curb Drug Abuse among Benue State University undergraduate Students. The study recommended drug abuse education in schools; this will provide factual information about effects of drug abuse in schools. Also, enlightenments campaigns by media (print media)., government and other Non-Governmental organization should be conducted among Benue State University students to help scourge drug abuse in Benue State, also print media should intensify their public awareness campaign by organizing drama, symposium, lectures not only in the Urban areas but also in or rural areas. This campaign should be made available because research has shown the Nigeria youths in both rural and urban area of different socio-economic background indulges in the use and abuse dangerous and illicit drugs. The researcher concludes that the significance of print media cannot be overemphasized with recourse to information dissemination. Print media in all variations have established themselves as the most pervasive and powerful forms of media or potential source of awareness creation in the world today. They represent a major channel through which information on effects of drug abuse can be disseminated to the people.