ROLES OF RADIO IN COMBATING DRUG ABUSE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1.1 Introduction

Campus Radio Station is a broadcast house where mostly audio content and programming are produced and transmitted over broadcast spectrum situated at the premises of an academic institution. Drug abuse is one type of deviant behaviour that was previously exclusively associated with the western societies. Before the eighties, this problem has been in existence but today the footage has turned into a frightening reality, a moister that has best ridden our country. Drug abuse is not just about the creative with a vacant look in its fast blinking eyes, a twittering body and an catered mind but its is about the student who cannot read without taking unsweetened coffee, kola nut or pills. Drug abuse is a fatal past time Nigerians have decided to indulge in and does the county have to show for it.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Communication dates back many centuries ago, right from the wall to the present use of scientific and methodical approaches in different spheres of human pre-occupation opportunities in an orderly target and result oriented manner. Radio is a medium of communication which is established for the promotion of economic development with a maximum coverage. Radio is also established for enhancement of educational development, stimulation of political participation and arousing National security.

Radio is the one of the most dramatic medium with a high audience reach both in the urban and rural areas respectively. Radio coverage is no less than 90 percent effective, the use of vernacular language to convey message makes radios a very flexible, portable and available medium, it is also inexpensive. Every government, no matter its policy recognizes role of the media in combating drug abuse. Undoubtedly radio makes a greater contribution towards societal improvements, so with this in mind and the features already mentioned above, it can rightly be said that radio is the hub that holds the wheel of society together and it has a role to play in combating the various scourge that afflicts man today and one of such problem that has threatened the existence of man is drug abuse. However, this study is on the role of Radio Nigeria Enugu in combating drug abuse among university students, a study of Enugu State University of Science Technology Students (ESUT), Agbani Campus.

Nigeria in short was the pace-setter as far as the African continent was concerned. One may rightly say that Nigeria was ascending to the heights in the post. However, striving to reach the peak of glory, politically and economically, along the way, she started descending as far as her glory was concerned. It is a Nigeria is not mentioned favorably in such an assessment, a situation which would not have arisen twenty or over ten years ago.

According to drug and alcohol service formation system (2002) poly drug, alcohol was most common substance reported to be abused by76 percent, the second was marijuana by 65 percent and other drugs by 26 percent and over half by fifty six percent of all admissions for treatment in publicity funded facilities in 2002, reported more than one substance abuse. Young-adult admissions were more of poly drug abuse, then older adult admission were more of alcohol according to the report.

As pointed out in Anekwe Herietta (2004), the Yaba psychiatric hospital, in 1984, treated 234 patients and in 1987, the figure climbed to 12,587, in 1989. It increased to 70,316. But these seems to be just a tip of the iceberg as this does not adequately resented the ugly situation as witnessed in most of the streets and federal highways in our country, Nigeria.

Drug abuse is one type of deviant behavior that was previously, exclusively associated with the western societies. This problem has been in existence before the eighties, but today the footage has turned into a frightening reality, a monster that has best ridden our country like a leach and refused to let go while gradually spreading its tentacles.

Drug abuse is not just about the creative with a vacant look in its fast blinking eyes, a twittering body and an altered without taking is about the student who cannot read without taking unsweetened coffee, kola-nut or pills. Is about filter lover who turns to the bottle for salvation, the business executive who must smoke to be able to work, the retrenched worker who floods his veins with smoke to forget his sorrows and adventures, who tries to get hick because others are doing it. Thus, drug abuse is not just about mislaying of drugs but the use of any chemical substance that has an effect on the body and they include, smoke cannabis, heroine, and cocaine, from the hemp plant, (cannabis satiua).

Nigeria has decided to indulge in drug abuse and there is nothing the country has to show for it. Most parents in Nigeria today in their bid to make both earns, meet, searching for greener pastures, always abandon and neglect the power welfare of their wards and children and expose them to the “unofficial” assistance of so called house-maids. This ugly incident will psychologically depress such children there by giving rise to child abuse which is an off-shot of drug abuse.

Nigerians have just woken up to the menace of drug abuse which is like a night mare that refuses to go away or like a shadow that does not depart from you. Drug abuse is not recent phenomenon in Nigeria. It started in the late 1960’s when the use of Indian hemp (cannabis) as a stimulant became widespread and what followed was a graded upsurge in the use of hemp of the Nigeria youths. As a menace of drugs grew wide, the government woke up to the dangers of the trade if left unchecked.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to examine the Roles of Radio in Combating Drug Abuse among University Students.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the government needs to seriously tackle the drug problem, the victims of a retroactive law that prescribed death for drug trafficking. The continuous abuse of these drugs has led to a situation of drug addiction and the addict developing bondage to the drug. The effects of drug abuse are detrimental not only to the individual but to society as a whole. Yet this problem is on the increase especially among those in higher institutions of learning, which is a serious threat to our national sanctity.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to assess the Roles of Radio in Combating Drug Abuse among University Students using Enugu State University of Science and Technology as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the level of radio awareness campaigns on drug abuse that have reduced the unlawful use of drugs among University Students;
2. To examine whether radio mass media educate and enlighten the University Students in the area under review;
3. To determine if radio mass media present adequate information on the effect of drug abuse on University Students;
4. To examine the problem facing the radio mass media in combating drug abuse among University students; and
5. To investigate whether the campaign programme is done in a language known and common among University students in the area under review.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does radio ESUT give sufficient airtime for the campaign programme on drug abuse among Students?
• Does radio mass media present adequate information on the effect of drug abuse on University Students?
• Does radio mass media educate and enlighten the University Students in the area under review?
• What are the problem facing the radio mass media in combating drug abuse among University students?
• What is the language used in campaign programme among University students in the area under review?
• What is the level of radio awareness campaigns on drug abuse that have reduced the unlawful use of drugs among University Students?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: The mass media (radio) does not generate awareness of dangers of drug abuse among University Students.
• H1: The mass media (radio) generate awareness of dangers of drug abuse among University Students.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: The existence of drug use among University Students is not as a result of insufficient effort by the radio media.
• H2: The existence of drug use among University Students is as a result of insufficient effort by the radio media.

Hypothesis Three

• H0: The awareness of the effects of drug abuse among University Students is not due to the impact of the radio media.
• H3: The awareness of the effects of drug abuse among University Students is due to the impact of the radio media.

Hypothesis Four

• H0: The nature of the radio media messages reveals that drug abuse is not commonest among University Students.
• H4: The nature of the radio media messages reveals that drug abuse is commonest among University Students.

Hypothesis Five

• H0: The radio mass media cannot control drug abuse among University Students.
• H5: The radio mass media can control drug abuse among University Students.

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1.7 Significance of Study

This study is significant because it will help the programme producer to know the extent his programme is in order to help reduce drug abuse in our society and to know the level of awareness on drug abuse created among students of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani campus.

The national security implication will be disastrous, hence the need for the media to intensity their role with various organizations like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to combat this scourge in all its ramification.

The government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will benefit from the study to know the harmful effect of media drama showing lots of drinking and alcoholic programmes, advert and marking on radio media to the society.

This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Roles of Radio in Combating Drug Abuse among University Students using Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani Campus as a case study.