UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDIES
COURSE TITTLE: DRUG ABUSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
COURSE CODE: CSS308
LECTURE IN CHARGE: DR. SALIHU HABBEB
NAME: SANI MUHAMMED HAJJI
MATRIC NO: 20/77JH056
LEVEL: 300
ASSIGNMENT
Discuss the demographic distribution of drug users considering the age,
gender, occupation, social class, and education.
Introduction
Drug abuse is a pressing issue that transcends borders and affects individuals
from all walks of life. In Nigeria, like many other countries, the misuse of
substances poses a significant challenge to public health and societal well-being.
Understanding the demographic distribution of drug users is essential for crafting
effective interventions and policies to combat this complex problem.
The demographic distribution of drug users in Nigeria varies across age, gender,
occupation, social class, and education level. According to the 2018 National Drug
Use Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the past year prevalence of any drug use in
Nigeria is estimated at 14.4%, or 14.3 million people aged between 15 and 64
years.
Age
According to the National Drug Use Survey in Nigeria, overall past-year use of
most drugs types is high among young people within the age brackets of 25 and
39 years. This is because this age group is more susceptible to peer pressure and
seeks thrill-seeking behaviors.
This is true for cannabis as well as for non-medical use of prescription opioids
(tramadol, codeine, morphine) and cough syrups containing codeine or
dextromethorphan. While the use of amphetamines and ecstasy is seen more
among young people, there is negligible use of these drugs among the older
population. However, there is considerable non-medical use of pharmaceutical
opioids and cough syrup among older people within the age brackets of 45 and 64
years.
Gender
The National Drug Use Survey indicates that drug abuse is more common among
males, with a prevalence rate of 25.2%, compared to approximately 8% among
females. This gender disparity in drug abuse prevalence underscores the need for
targeted interventions that consider the specific needs and vulnerabilities of both
male and female drug users in Nigeria.
Proportionally more men than women have used drugs in Nigeria in the past year
- one in four drug users in Nigeria is a woman. While men are 7 times more likely
than women to use cannabis, the gender difference in the non-medical use of
pharmaceutical opioids - such as tramadol, codeine, and morphine, tranquilizers
and cough syrups containing codeine or dextromethorphan is less pronounced.
Men are also more likely than women to be high risk drug users including those
who inject drugs.
Occupation
The unemployed and unskilled workers tend to have higher rates of drug abuse
due to easy access, poverty, and lack of opportunities
Studies have shown that certain occupations in Nigeria are associated with a
higher prevalence of drug abuse. A study by Yunusa et al. (2017) found that
commercial bus drivers in Kano state had a high prevalence of drug use (81.1%),
with tramadol and herbal tea being the most commonly abused substances. This
highlights the importance of addressing substance abuse within specific
occupational settings to effectively combat drug abuse in Nigeria.
Social class
Drug abuse is more prevalent among lower social classes due to social and
economic disadvantages such as commercial bus drivers in Kano state. However,
drug use is also increasing among upper-middle and high social classes, especially
for prescription drugs and cannabis. Affluence provides greater access to drugs
for recreational purposes. This implies that socioeconomic factors play a role in
the prevalence of drug abuse within different social classes in Nigeria.
Education
Generally, individuals with lower educational attainment have higher rates of
drug abuse. This could be due to lack of awareness, knowledge, and
opportunities. However, drug use is also on the rise among individuals with
tertiary education, especially for prescription drugs and cannabis.
The 2018 National Drug Use Survey did not provide data on the educational
distribution of drug users. However, a study by Erah (2017) found that 20.9% of
secondary school students in a state in the South-South region of Nigeria had
used drugs, with cannabis, caffeine, codeine, nicotine, and cocaine being the most
commonly abused substances. Another study by Gobir et al. (2017) found that
10% of youths aged 15-35 years in rural communities in Sokoto state had used
drugs, with tramadol and cannabis being the most commonly abused substances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the demographic distribution of drug users in Nigeria reveals
important patterns related to age, social class, gender, occupation, and education
level. Understanding these demographic factors is essential for developing
targeted interventions and policies to address drug abuse effectively in Nigeria
and reduce the prevalence of substance abuse across different segments of the
population.
References
National Bureau of Statistics. "Drug Use in Nigeria - 2018."
European External Action Service. "Nigeria, EU and UNODC release first-ever
National Drug Use Survey."
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. "DRUG USE IN NIGERIA - United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime."
Healththink.org. "Drug Abuse: A Public Health Menace in Nigeria."
Scholar Works. "Demographic Characteristics, Level of Drug Use, and Self-Esteem
Among College Students in Kaduna State, Nigeria."
Israel, E. & Nyoho, E. (2015). Illicit drug use and emotional behaviour of senior
secondary Students in public schools in akwa ibom state, Nigeria. International
Journal of Education, Learning and Development, 4(1,) 52-59.
NDLEA. (1997). Drug date collection and research, Lagos: Drug Demand and
Reduction Unit National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
