DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND

CONTROL

A LECTURE DELIVERED

TO

2025 BATCH “B"STREAM I CORPS

MEMBERS

AT

NYSC PERMANENT ORIENTATION CAMP

MANI ROAD, KATSINA STATE

BY

SN. NURADDEEN SALI

AUGUST 2025
INTRODUCTION

The desire to abuse mind altering drugs is as old as the age of man,
therefore not a new thing to the world. . Virtually all section of the
community are guilty of drug abuse, the illiterate, semi-illiterate,
academicians, undergraduates, dustmen, motor park workers, politician,
administrators, top executive directors, security officers, doctors, nurses,
technicians, military personnel, actors, judges, pharmacists,
sportsmen/women, entertainers, the jobless, the poor, the rich, the young
and elderly.

The drug problem is a global plague affecting both developed and

developing nations worldwide; it is a problem that affects every nation’s
political, social and economic life. It has been implicated in many organized
crimes in the world, such as armed robbery, rape, terrorism, prostitution
and host of other behaviors. It is noteworthy of mention that drug induced
psychosis form a significant portion of admission cases in psychiatric
centers nationwide. Combating this menace necessitated the enactment of
decree 48 of 1989 (with succeeding amendment now encapsulated as act
cap N30 2004 LFN) which established the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency.

The Agency was saddled with the dual responsibility of reducing the
supply of and demand of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the
supply reduction involves using various methods, such as arrest, seizures,
interdiction, destruction of farmer, to reduce or stop production and

1
trafficking of illicit drugs in order to prevent them from reaching the
consumers, while demand reduction, which is aimed at reducing the
demand for illicit drugs is primarily done through drug abuse preventive,
education, treatment and social support. It is evidence based that
educating the public on what they should know about drugs, its dangers
and consequences of drug abuse is the real fight to drug abuse, and will
reduce the likelihood of young people getting initiated into drug abuse.

These therefore bring us to the topic of this lecture i.e “Danger of

drug abuse and control”

What is Drug

It is a chemical substance natural or synthetic other than foods which when

consume in certain amount alters the normal physiological functions of
living things (especially human being). Drug is any substance which when
taken into the body by any means whatsoever changes the function of the
body and the behavior of the user.

By this drug can be define :

1.Medicine of all types normally prescribed by medical personnel,

2. Socially acceptable substances e.g Kola nut, alcohol, and coffee.

3, Illegally or prohibited substances e.g cannabis sativa, heroin cocaine etc

There are two types of drugs licit and illicit drugs.

Drug Misuse: it is the incorrect use of drug for medical purpose example,
taking four tablets in place of two.

2
What is Drug Abuse

The UNDCP (United Nation drug control programme) defined drug abuse
as drug taking without medical justification, while the NIDA, (National
Institution on Drug Abuse) defined it as drug use that result in the physical
mental, emotional and social impairments of the user.

Drug is abuse when:

1. Its use is not medically necessary e.g sedative/Hypnotics

2. It is not recommended by a health worker.
3. Its use is prohibited by law or is socially unacceptable.
4. It is used excessively even if it is socially tolerated substances
such as alcohol, cola nut or cigarettes (tobacco).

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUG ABUSE.

The following are some of the factors that predispose people to drug
abuse.

(a) Social pathologies such as unemployment, parental deprivation,

family disintegration and cultural variations.
(b) Emotional and psychological stresses such as anxiety, frustration,
economic depression. Low self- esteem.
(c) Peer group pressure characterized by the desire to be accepted
among friends or in social circles.

3
 (d) The desire to achieve success in a competitive world, such as
chief executive that want to clear their tables, actors that want to
impress their audiences.
Students that want to read TDB for their exams etc. all to enhance
performance.
(e) Warped (materialistic) value system in the society, such as crave
to get rich quickly.
(f) Easy availability of the substance.
(g) Adverts in the mass media.
(h) Occupational pre-dispositions
(i) Environmental influence from family, school, work place,
neighborhood or community.

STAGES OF DRUG ABUSE

Once drug abuse is initiated it gradually proceed from mild to a more

severe stage, though these stages do not necessarily follow each other,
however the followings are usually observed.

Experimental use: This is the first stage and normally curiosity and
peer pressure led many young people to experiment. For some of them
this initial use may be unpleasant and this could discourage them from
trying again. Others however, encouraged by seasoned users, may see
themselves going beyond this stage.

Occasional Use:- In this stage the individual does not go seeking for the
drugs but use when offered. Drugs are taken mainly during social functions.
This group mainly believed they can control the habit.

4
Regular: - At this stage the individual actively seek for drug of choice.
Personal money is spent to maintain supply and high motivation for the
drugs is demonstrated.

Dependence/Addiction:-This is the terminal stage. It has reached a

level of complex illness. It is characterized by compulsion, at times
uncontrollable drug craving, seeking and use that persist even in the
face of extremely negative consequences.

For many people drug use becomes chronic with relapses possible
even after a long period of abstinence. Now the use of the substance
takes on a much higher priority for the individual than other behaviors
that once had greater value.

Although initial drug use might be voluntary, once addiction develops

the changes in the brain interfere with an individual’s ability to choose
not to take drug again, because of its effects on the brain reward system
that reinforces important behaviors that are essential for survival, such
as eating, drinking, sex and social interactions and physical changes in
the prefrontal cortex, the areas of the brain that are critical for judgment,
decision making, learning, memory, and behavior control. So drug,
dependency/addiction is a neurological disorder that affects the brain
reward system, drugs of abuse hijack this system, turning the process of
natural needs into drug needs, it is not the result of lack of will power or
moral weakness, it has biological, sociological and psychological
components.

5
SIGNS OF DRUG USE.

The need to be able to recognize early use of drugs is very important. Early
detection coupled with prompt intervention go a long way in helping to
redress the problem.

A – Possession of the drug itself whether peculiar plants, seeds, butts or

powdery substances.

B – Possession of drug related paraphernalia like pipes, rolling papers,

syringes, lighters, matches, bottles, openers, ash-tray, and decongestant
bottle.

C – Unusual use of perfumes, air fresheners, incense, mosquito coil,

insecticides, chewing gum, licking sweet all as cover-ups to suppress the
odor or smell of drugs.

D – Being unusually withdrawn or evasive.

E – Tardiness and truancy.

F – Downward performance in work and school.

G – Deviant behavior e.g stealing, lying, trouble with authorities.

H – Deterioration in health.

6
I – Memory lapses, short attention span, difficulty in concentration, in
healthy appearance, indifference to personal hygiene

J – Identification with drug culture, music, slogan or clothing.

K – Increasingly and inappropriate anger, hostility irritability, secretiveness.

L – Blood short eyes or dilated pupils.

M – Unusual use of dark glass

DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE

The resultant consequences of drug abuse can be categorizes into four

areas.

These are: physical, psychological social and economic.

(1.) For physical consequences, the user is exposed to serious health

problem that affect vital organs and function of the body. These
include.
a. Damage to the brain and liver.
b. Heart and lung diseases.
c. Irregular heart beating.
d. High blood pressure.
e. Hepatitis, Hiv/Aids, STDs, due to sharing of syringes and needles in
case of injection drug users(IDU’s) and reckless/indiscriminate sex.
f. Nervous breakdown.
g. Damage to unborn babies.
h. Poor blood supply and circulations.
i. Premature death.

7
(2.) Under psychological consequences there is:
a. Sleeplessness
b. Restlessness
c. Anxiety
d. Depression
e. Psychosis
f. Paranoia
g. Hallucination
h. Depression and craving desire.
(3.) Social problem show how an individual’s drug taking habits affect
others and the society at large. Some of these are:
i. Loss of job
j. Dropping out or expulsion from the school.
k. Truancy and deviant behavior.
l. Criminal activities (stealing, Cultism, gangsterism, politicalthuggery,
hired killings, terrorism, etc.
m. Destitution
n. Prostitution.
o. Family disintegration.
p. Industrial and traffic accidents etc.

Economic consequences of drug abuse.

i. Increased healthcare spending by you and family members.

Money spent in hospitals for avoidable diseases is a waste.
ii. Drug use fuels violent crime which threatens conducive
environment for viable economic growth

8
 iii. Illegally acquired drug money is laundered into the economy to
disrupt planning.
iv. Financial drain. Money spent to procure drugs daily basis, can be
channeled to a productive venture.

CONTROL OF DRUG ABUSE

 Public awareness and sensitization

 Government should improve economic status to curb
unemployment and inflation.
 Strengthening Govt Agencies that fight against Drug Abuse, such
as the NDLEA.
 Avoid bad association/peer pressure.
 Parents gives sound home training to their children.
 Government should provide strict penalties for drug trafficking.
 Developing self-contentment and self-esteem
 Strict policies on prescribing and use of prescription drugs.
 Resolving family matters.

CONCLUSION

The national drug law enforcement Agency relies on the co-operation

and collaboration of the non-governmental organizations (NGO’s)
community based organizations (CBO’s) religious leaders, youth
organizations, families, the mass media, local government councils,
agencies and the general public in fighting the war against drug abuse. It is

9
expected that equipping the youths, families and communities with
balanced information and knowledge of the dangers inherent in drug abuse
will enable them to make informed choice about drug use.The Agency has
also established several drug free clubs across secondary and tertiary
institutions and in partnership with the NYSC drug free CDS groups
nationwide preaching this message of hope.

I urge you all to say no to drug abuse, and extend this message of
hope to people in the various areas you will be posted for your primary
assignment. I wish you all success and a drug free service year in Katsina
state.

Thank you all for listening and God bless.

10