YOUTHS INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND THE ROLE OF NATIONAL DRUGS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (NDLEA) IN JOS METROPOLIS
Abstract
Thisstudyexaminedtheprevalence,patterns,anddeterminantsofdrugandsubstanceabuseamongyouthsaged18–40inJosmetropolis,PlateauState,Nigeria,aswellastheroleandeffectivenessoftheNationalDrugLawEnforcementAgency(NDLEA)incombatingthemenace.Amixed-methodsdescriptivesurveydesignwasadopted.Quantitativedatawereobtainedfrom306dulycompletedquestionnairesadministeredtoastratifiedrandomsampleof399youths(responserate76.7%),whilequalitativeinsightswerederivedfromsemi-structuredinterviewswith10NDLEAofficialsand10communityleaders.Descriptivestatistics(frequencies,percentages)wasusedfordataanalysis.Keyfindingsrevealedthat56%ofrespondentshadusedillicitsubstances,withalcohol(98%),marijuana(96%),cigarettes(60%),tramadol(38%),andcodeine(28%)beingthemostprevalent.Peerpressure(51%),stress/mentalhealthissues(25%),andeconomichardship(86%)weretheprimarydrivers,exacerbatedbyeasydrugaccess(75%).NDLEAenjoyedhighvisibility(93%)througharrests,raids,andtheWarAgainstDrugAbuse(WADA)campaign,yetonly31%ofyouthshadparticipatedinitsprograms.Theagencywasrated“somewhateffective”by50%ofrespondents,with64%notingslightreductionindrugavailabilityand72%acknowledgingdeterrenceeffects.Challengesincludedinadequatefunding,limitedcommunitycooperation,andinsufficientrehabilitationfacilities.Thestudyconcludesthatasupply-focusedenforcementmodelmustbecomplementedbyrobustprevention,education
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