Preceding Knowledge and Perceptions of Drug Addicts on Psychoactive Substance Abuse Information Communicated by NDLEA in Sabon Gari Area of Kaduna State

Preceding Knowledge and Perceptions of Drug Addicts on Psychoactive Substance Abuse Information Communicated by NDLEA in Sabon Gari Area of Kaduna State  

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to find out how prior knowledge of Drug addicts influences their perceptions on psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to them by NDLEA.In order to achieve the target of this study,six research questions were raised among which are; what are the prior Knowledge of Drug Addicts in Sabon

Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State about the use of psychoactive substances and how do Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State perceive the psychoactive substance abuse information communicated by NDLEA. Relevant literature were reviewed on prior knowledge, perception, psychoactive substance abuse, psychoactive substance abuse information, research paradigm, social construction of reality, Chatman’s theory of normative behaviour, previous studies that adopted theory of normative behavior.In order to have answers to the research questions raised, qualitative research methodology was adopted to answer the research questions through Snowball sampling techniques and face – to – face in-depth interview with 10 exrehabilitated Drug addicts in Sabon Gari metropolitan area of Kaduna state. Findings of this study revealed that prior knowledge of Drug Addicts about smoking; inhaling; swallowing; or drinking psychoactive substances are inner joy /happiness and source of energy to perform hard labor.Another finding of this study shows that Drug addicts perceived the information communicated to them by NDLEA positively as expected by the agency is because there are instances in the data collected from them that indicates their confessions about the usefulness of the information. Furthermore, some of the Drug addicts abuse were of the belief that the information was irrelevant to them because, there are instances in the data collected that indicates Drug addicts complains about how NDLEA officers treat them during their arrest and how they perceive NDLEA as corrupt agency which literally leads to negative perception about the information. The study concluded that there is a critical need for the management of NDLEA to be frequently and regularly train their staff on how to develop good relationship with the arrested and detained Drug Addicts under their custody. More importantly, community leaders in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State should be frequently visiting Drug addicts that are under the custody of NDLEA in order to share their love to them. If this goal achieved it could serve as an avenue for changing the negative perceptions of Drug addicts about the psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to them by NDLEA.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Background to the Study

Psychoactive substance abuse is a major problem in the world that causes mental disorder, social violence, gang formation, cultism,armed robbery, 419 syndrome, Internet frauds, social miscreants (area boysand girls) lawlessness among youths, lack of respect for elders, rape, loss ofsenses, instant death and wasting of precious and innocent lives (Eric & Makanjuola, Abiodun & Sajo 2014). In order to support this argument, Abdullahi (2009) found thatapart from the genocide of Second World War, there is no other phenomenon that has more debilitating consequences on mankind like the epidemic of substance abuse. This view is anchored on the fact that even the much dreaded Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which has yet defied any known cure has substance abuse as one of its principal causes.

The concept of psychoactive substance abuse emerged as a result of conceptual framework of Drug abuse which focused on issues related to excessive use of drugs, alcohol, chemicals and non-chemicals. Currently, literatures reported that the term is no longer refers to ‗Drug abuse‘ anymore but rather ‗psychoactive substance abuse‘. This is because, recently people prefer to use any kinds of tangible materials that would alter their normal behavior in the name of deriving pleasure or withstanding pressures (Makanjuola, Abiodun&Sajo 2014). Psychoactive substance abuse is the use of illicit drugs and other chemicals which arenone drug such as glue, cleaning fluids,petrol and other chemicals which causepsychological and physiological effectsto an individual (Eric, 2014). It  refers to chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter the States of body or  mind,  other  than  medically  warranted  purposes    leading  to  effects  that  are  detrimental  to  the individual‘s physical or mental health  or  the  welfare  of  others.

Consequences of psychoactive substance abuse include psychiatric disorder, vital organs damage, peptic ulcer, hypertension, blood cancer, social vices, civil upheavals, school dropout and poor academic performance (Makanjuola et.al, 2014). To address the problems of psychoactive substance abuse, international agencies such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Health Organization (WHO) provides information about the dangers of abusing psychoactive substances globally, while National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as a national agency responsible for eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, trafficking and  use of hard drugs in Nigeria, provides information to the public on the dangers of abusing psychoactive substances. Psychoactive substance abuse information is communicated through: video clips, social media, billboard, newspapers, radios/television stations, youth forums, conferences and counselling support programs in NDLEA rehabilitation Centre (Oraka, 2007).  On the other hand, in order to communicate information about the dangers of substance abuse, scholars have explored the problem from health perspective (Wilson, 2005;Gladys, 2005;Oraka, 2007; Abdulahi, 2009;Fareo, 2012 & Makanjuola et al., 2014) while, (Kardaras, 2008 & Irene, 2010) others approached it from socio-economic perspective

However, while these studies have helped to better understand the phenomenon by identifying the causes, prevalence and the strategies for counseling psychoactive substance Addiction behavior, they do not take into consideration of how Drug Addictsperceive psychoactive substance abuse information especially from social construction of reality perspective. Social construction of reality is associated with how knowledge is created through historical facts and real life experiences. It also has the advantage of understanding issues from the perspectives of actors rather than from the perspectives of directors or observer (Henderson, 2014). On this note, this study argues that, to have a better understanding of the process and the strategic ways for counseling and communicating psychoactive substance abuse information that would convince Drug Addicts to become free from Addictive behavior, there is a critical need to explore how Drug Addicts perceive the psychoactive substanceabuse information communicated to them particularly their prior knowledge about consuming psychoactive substance and the experiences they gained at the time of receiving  rehabilitation services in NDLEA detention and rehabilitation Centre.

The study also used theoretical framework to explain how Drug Addicts particularly in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area perceived psychoactive substance abuse information using Chatman‘s (2012) theory of normative behavior. The theory has the advantages of explaining the reasons behind how individuals understand, perceive and make sense of all issues around their social world (including information) from real life experiences. The theory is suitable for this study because the study was aimed at explaining how substance Drug Addicts particularly from Sabon Gari Metropolitan area perceived the psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to them based on the real life time experiences they gained in NDLEA detention and

rehabilitation Centre.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The importance of psychoactive substance abuse information can never be underestimated simply because it helps Drug Addicts to have an idea about the negative consequences of psychoactive substance abuse such as health complicated issues; lowliness in society, unemployment and school dropout all as a result of psychoactive substance abuse (Fareo, 2012). There are several international agencies that support and provide psychoactive substance abuse information globally such as United State Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

While, at national level one agency that is at the forefront of providing psychoactive substance information is NDLEA. In order to communicate psychoactive substance abuse information, NDLEA established a unique department named ‗Anti-Drug Counselling Unit‘. This department is in charge of communicating psychoactive substance abuse information inside and outside the agency‘s rehabilitation Centre. The strategies employed by this department to communicate the information outside the rehabilitation Centre comprises mass media campaign, social media campaign, distributions of leaflets at motor pack and other social gathering Centre‘s. While on the other hand, psychotherapist‘s counselling, family therapy and drug abuse education are the strategies employed by the department in order to communicate the information inside the agency‘s rehabilitation Centre.

Unfortunately, in spite of the many efforts made by NDLEA for communicating psychoactive substance abuse information. Psychoactive substance abuse, particularly among youths has continued to be on the rise. This has become a very serious issue to the human capital development in Nigeria. As such, there is a critical need to have a study that will systematically uncover and document the types of psychoactive substances abused by Drugs addicts, the pro knowledge of Drug addicts on psychoactive substances, the strategist used by NDLA for communicating the psychoactive information and the types of information provide to Drug addicts. More importantly, one is yet to understand the perceptions of Drug addicts about NDLA and the use of theory to explain the undesirable behaviours of Drugs addicts after their released from NDLA rehabilitation Centre.

1.3 Research Questions

1. What types of psychoactive substances abused by Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna

State?

2. What are the prior Knowledge of Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State about the use ofpsychoactive substances?
3. What Strategies are employed by NDLEA for communicating psychoactive substance abuse information to

Drug Addictsin NDLEA rehabilitation Centre?

4. What types of psychoactive substance abuse information are communicated to Drug Addicts in NDLEA rehabilitation Centre?
5. What are the perceptionsof Drug Addicts on psychoactive substance abuse information communicated by

NDLEAin Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State?

6. How do Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State perceive NDLEA Agency?
7. How do Chatman‘s theory of normative behavior and her perspectives about (social norms, worldview, social types and information behaviour) explain Drug Addicts perceptionson psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to them in NDLEA rehabilitation Centre?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to determine the perception of psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to Drug Addicts from Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State by NDLEA. Specifically, the study was set off to achieve the following objectives:

1. To identify the types of psychoactive substances abused by Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State.
2. To find out the prior Knowledge of Drug Addictsin Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State about the use ofpsychoactive substances.

3.To find out the strategies are employed by NDLEA for communicating psychoactive substance abuse information to Drug Addictsin NDLEA rehabilitation Centre.

4. To find out thetypes of psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to Drug Addicts in NDLEA rehabilitation Centre.

5.To understand how Drug Addictsin Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna Stateperceive the psychoactive substance abuse informationcommunicated to them byNDLEA.

6. To find out howDrug Addictsin Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna Stateperceive NDLEA Agency.
7. To explain how Chatman‘s theory of normative behavior and her perspectives about (social norms, worldview, social types and information behavior) explain how Drug Addicts from Sabon Gari Metropolitan area perceived the substance abuse information communicated to them in NDLEA rehabilitation Centre.

 

 

 

 

1.5. Significance of the Study

The significant of this study are categorized based of the following:

1. The findings of this study can serve as an eye opener for parents, caretakers and community leads to have an idea on the types of psychoactive substances abused by Drug addicts within Sabon Gari metropolitan area of Kaduna

state.

2. The findings of this study is expected to help international donors, State ministry of health and NDLEA officials to have an idea on how to design useful and acceptable information approach that would convince Drug Addict to become free from Addiction behavior.
3. The study will also serve as a guide for researchers in Nigeria who are interested in carrying out empirical researches on perceptions of a socials group about particular information communicated to them using theory as a guide.
4. The study will also add value to the existing literatures on information behavior, psychoactive substance abuse and the use of theory in qualitative research.
   • Scope of the Study

The scope of this study covers only Drug Addicts in Sabon Gari Metropolitan area of Kaduna State who

were arrested, detained, released by NDLEA and continue abusing psychoactive substances after their release from NDLEA rehabilitation Centre. The study also focused on the prior knowledge and perceptions of Drug addicts on psychoactive substance abuse information communicated to by NDLEA.

 

• Limitation

The researcher experienced few challenges while conducting this study; the problem was that some of the respondents felt that NDLEA officials or their parents would discover their acts of noncompliance to the psychoactive substance abuse informationcommunicated to them and deal with them. This problem was however solved with assurance of confidentiality.

• Operational Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined operationally as used in the study:

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE- is described as the ability of an individual to use his/her brain to recall previous experiences about a particular issue so as to know how to react if same issue arise or contacted.

PERCEPTION- is described as personal opinion, views, suggestions, experience and feelings of Drug Addicts about NDLEA and the substance abuse information communicated to them by the agency.

PYSCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE- is described as any tangible physical material that has the ability of distorting individual‘s psychological and emotional feelings from his/her normal behavior.

DRUG ADDICTS- group of individuals from Sabon Gari Metropolitan area, who abused any psychoactive substance and have been arrested, detained rehabilitated and released from NDLEA‘s rehabilitation and detention Centre.

PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE INFORMATION- is described as any advice, counselling and

warning about the dangers of abusing psychoactive substances.

 

References

Abdulahi, Z. (2009). ―Drug abuse among youths: Strategies for school counseling‖, the  Nigerian Society of Educational Psychologists, Jos: Nigeria. pp. 131-136.

 

Akannam, A. (2008)Youth and drug abuse in Nigeria: Strategies for counselling, management and control, Kano: Matasa Press.

Chatman, E. A. (2000). Framing social life in theory and research.New Review of Information Behavior Research: Studies of Information Seeking in Context, 1, 3-17.

Eric, K. Kabuka (2014). Prevalence of Substance Abuse among Students in Public Secondary Schools in Kisumu Municipality, Kisumu Count,Kenya.Retrieved from http://www.nacada.go.ke/documents–andresources/category/16–socio–economic–consequences?download=82:Theme%202. Access on 6/7/2015

 

Fareo, Dorcas Oluremi (2012). Drug Abuse Among Nigerian Adolescents Strategies for Counselling. The Journal of International Social Research 20(5), 5-20.

Gergen, K. J. (1985). The social constructionist movement in modern psychology. American Psychologist,40(3), 266-275.

Gladys Thembinkosi Mhlongo (2005). Retrieved from

https://www.brandeis.edu/ethics/pdfs/SF/PAX_89_2012_Mohammed.pdf.Accessed on 22/07/ 2014.

Henderson A.J (2014).Social construction of reality.Accessed from https://www.ajhenderson.com/pdf/Social%20Construction%20of%20Reality.pdfRetrieved on 13/12/2014.

Irene Patience Mohasoa (2010).Substance Abuse among Male Adolescents.Retrieved from htpp://uir.unisa.ac.za/…sertation_mohasoa_i.pdf?sequence=1 Accessed on 23/06/2014.

Kardaras Eva I. (2008). Substance Abuse among African American Adolescents: Examining the Effects of A Community Based Intervention. Retrieved from http://soar.wichita.edu/bitstream/handle/10057/2072/d08015.pdf?sequence=3Accessed on 23/ 07/ 2014.

Makanjuola, A.B., Abiodun, O.A. and Sajo, S. (2014). Alcohol and Psychoactive Substance Use Among Medical Students of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal 10(8), 1857-7881.

Oraka, Bibian (2007). An Assignment Of Media Use In Anti-Drug Abuse Campaigns (Master‘s thesis, NnamdiAzikiwe University Awka, Nigeria). Accessed on at 20/7/2014.

Wilson, Natascha (2005). Substance Use among Female Graduate Students. Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/…s/available/etd-06032004-114840 Accessed on 24/07/2014

Preceding Knowledge and Perceptions of Drug Addicts on Psychoactive Substance Abuse Information Communicated by NDLEA in Sabon Gari Area of Kaduna State  

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