THE INFLUENCE OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AMONG YOUTH IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Drug trafficking and distribution laws make it illegal to sell, transport, and import illegal controlled substances like marijuana and cocaine. Drug trafficking is one of the most serious problems for most countries all over the world. Unfortunately, this type of business is rather profitable, if not to consider that it is constantly related to murders, kidnapping, prostitution and other crimes. Certainly drug trafficking contributes to better distribution of drugs, thus involving more and more people, making them addicted. The menace of drugs abuse in Nigeria has reached a frightening proportion and it pervaded every fibre in the society (Center for Disease Control, 2000).

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Drug use in Nigeria is dated long before colonization. People in their quest to optimize their energy use various local herbs like Zakami in the Northern part of the country, Goskolo in the middle belt region, and Kaikai in both the Eastern and Western part of the country. There are buyers and sellers of these products at the local level, but trafficking to other countries has not been known.

In the year 1868, the government of the UK took the decision to restrict sale of opium in the Pharmacy Act. In 1914 Harrison Act followed in the United States. Thus, it is clear, that even taking into consideration the fact, that opium sale brought good profits, sooner or later; governments had to restrict and take under control illegal drugs, in order not to worsen the situation with addicted people.

Cannabis became a source of worry when in the 1960s cannabis farms were discovered. Nigerians were also arrested abroad in large numbers for cannabis trafficking. There was also report of psychological disorder which was connected to the use of cannabis. According to Lambo (1965); many West Africans were prosecuted in the United Kingdom for trafficking in cannabis in the early 1960s. Within Nigeria, in 1961, 823 kg was seized and in 1962, 7152 kg was also seized. Cannabis is the only illicit drug that is produced within the country.

In the early 1960s, after independence, Nigeria noticed rampant cases of drug abuse (Okon, 2002). During that period, the number of drugs that were mostly abused were limited to tobacco, kolanut and alcohol. These days, many young ones now resort to everything including tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs; the products that are most available to them (Okon, 2002). This situation, among others, has resulted in the creation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which was established by Decree No. 48 in 1989 to handle issues relating to the abuse and trafficking of narcotic drugs and other psycho-tropic substances, other than food which by its chemical nature, affects the structure and function of living organisms (Fareo, 2012).

Nigeria introduced its drug control effort in 1985 when a dangerous drug ordinance was enacted to control trafficking and abuse (Johnson, 2002). By 1994, another landmark effort was made when the Federal Military Government promulgated the special tribunal (miscellaneous offences) Decree No. 20 of 1984 to stop drug trafficking within Nigeria shores. This is because a drug menace continued to rise in profile (Johnson, 2002).

Substance abuse leads to substance addiction with the development of tolerance and dependence. Tolerance refers to a condition where the user needs more and more of the drug to experience the same effect. Smaller quantities, which were sufficient earlier, are no longer effective and the user is forced to increase the amount of drug intake. Slowly, drug dependence develops. Both substance abuse and dependence require a maladaptive pattern of substance use. Substance abuse criteria include use resulting in inability to meet major role obligations, legal problems, and an increase in risk-taking behaviours or exposure to hazardous situations.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Influence of Drug Trafficking among Youth in Nigeria.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

The problems encountered by the existing system of operation include the following:

1. It leads to death as a result of drug intake, through overdose and drug-related diseases.
2. Trafficking of drugs affects or alters the body chemistry through installing of drugs to be smuggled in the body system.
3. Drug is cost effective and addictive to human body system.
4. It leads to a long jail term of 3 to 5 years of life imprisonment when apprehended by the police.

Despite the enormity of the problem in Nuv, systematic research has not been undertaken to clearly document the combined social, economic, health and psychological impact of substance abuse. Mental health problems such as depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal, and other psychosocial dysfunctions frequently are linked to substance abuse among adolescents (Antwi et al., 2003).

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Influence of Drug Trafficking among Youth in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the relationship between drug trafficking and the youth psychological behavior;
2. To find out the consequences of drug trafficking among youths on the basis of gender;
3. To find out the causes of drug trafficking among youths on the basis of gender;
4. To find out the impacts of drug trafficking among youth in Nigeria; and
5. To recommend remedial measures of drug trafficking among youth in Nigeria

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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:

• What is the relationship between drug trafficking and the youth psychological behavior?
• What are the consequences of drug trafficking among youths on the basis of gender?
• What are the causes of drug trafficking among youths on the basis of gender?
• What are the impacts of drug trafficking among youth in Nigeria?
• What are the remedial measures of drug trafficking among youth in Nigeria?

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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: There is no relationship between drug trafficking and the youth psychological behavior
• H1: There is relationship between drug trafficking and the youth psychological behavior

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There are no causes which make the youth to trafficking drugs in Nigeria
• H1: There are causes which make the youth to trafficking drugs in Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of benefit to the youth. The study will help to address the causes and also provide the remedies to the Drug Trafficking among Youth. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide. Finally, the study will be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the general public.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of study is focused on the Influence of Drug Trafficking among Youth in Nigeria. This research is limited to the youths in Warri-South district, Delta State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Drug: A drug is any substance (other than food that provides nutritional support) that, when inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, absorbed via a patch on the skin, or dissolved under the tongue causes a temporary physiological (and often psychological) change in the body.

Drug Trafficking: Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws.

Trafficking: Drug trafficking and distribution laws make it illegal to sell, transport, and import illegal controlled substances like marijuana and cocaine.