Drug Designing: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Demographic Factors as Predictors of Psychoactive Substance Use and Violent crimes Among Youth in Some Selected Towns in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Andrew Zamani, Akawu Monday*, Lama Timothy Elam and Anthony Madaki

This paper focuses on public perception of the relationship between psychoactive substance use and violent crimes among youth in Nasarawa State. The research employed the survey method and a Scale on Perception of Psychoactive Substance Effect and Violence (SOPPSEV) was used to elicit information from the participants in selected communities in two Local Governments, Lafia and Kokona Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. There were 103 participants, 80 males and 23 females. A 2 × 2 × 4 design was used to analyse the data. The aim of the study was to investigate public perception of the relationship between psychoactive substance use and violent crimes. Hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics. The results revealed that there were generally positive public perception on psychoactive substance use and violent crime among youths. Test of hypothesis 1, however, revealed that there is a statistical significant positive influence between age and gender group on the perception of Psychoactive substance use and violent crimes among youth: age [X²(1)=5.655, P<0.05] and gender [X²(1)=4.682, P<0.05}. For hypothesis 2, religion and educational status difference were observed on the public perception of the Psychoactive substance use and violent crimes. The results revealed that F(1,99)=0.233, P>0.05, such that mean scores for higher education (x=24.48, SD=3.084) and lower education (x=24.04, SD=3.241). The interaction effect was insignificant. (1,99)=0.016, P>0.05, thus indicating that religion and education do not have influence on the public perception of the relationship between psychoactive substance use and violent crime among youths. Hypothesis 3 was accepted with the following statistical outcome age thus (r=0.254; P<0.05), gender (r=0.180; P<.05), religion affiliation (r=0.172; P<.05, ethnic affiliation (r=-0.015; P>.05. The researcher, therefore, concluded that considering the wide spread of positive perception, there is a significant influence of public perception on the relationship between psychoactive substance use and violent crimes among youth in Nasarawa State. The researcher recommends that concerted effort be made in the regulation on drug supply and consumption in Nigeria by Stake holders, Agencies such as National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) among others. Communities should be empowered with culture fair behavioural change communication strategies that will enable members adopt indigenous models on drug abuse management and control. The harmful effects on the individual and the community should be made known to the young people. Community based intervention centres or programme should be established in all Local Government Areas for immediate response to those with high substance use dispositions to prevent incidences of violent crimes.

Published Date: 2020-09-28; Received Date: 2020-08-28