AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PRINT MEDIA IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN NIGERIA

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PRINT MEDIA IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN NIGERIA

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Drug abuse is a very sensitive and vital issue on our social, education, economic and moral life. It was due to the negative effect it have on the individual or society, that lead to the establishment of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) whose aim is to check control and  investigate  drugs that are harmful to human consumption.

Drug are chemical substance solidly, liquid/gaseous and other good food that cause change in the body. They are various kinds and used for difference purpose. Combat injections, slowdown increase metabolic/body function, relieve pain, depression, induce sleep etc it’s not that these drugs are dangerous but their use become harmful to man.

Britanica (2011) defined Drug abuse as the excessive, maladaptive, addictive, use of drug for non medical purpose despite social, psychological and physical problems that may arise from such use” during the 20th century, many government across the world have respond to the use of recreational drugs of banning them and making their use, supply or trade a criminal offence.

Drug abuse have becomes common with some student in the tertiary institution. Health, well-being and happiness, have always been a major quest of humans. Thus people want to go out of their ways to achieve or maintain these states of mind and body. In every society, people use medicine, herbal drugs or otherwise to get good health when they are sick in body or mind.

In most societies people use a number of substances to alter their mood, behavior, consciousness, or perception. This form of behavior is often accepted. In our society, for instance, the use of alcohol, kolanut, tea or coffee, is widely accepted as normal. Nevertheless, as you are probably aware, these substance (especially alcohol) can bring about sorts of problems for the user. These substance contain chemicals which make them to affect the central nervous system, thereby influencing behavior. And there are many other substance that people take which have even stronger risks association with them. These include: Indian hemp (marijuana), cocaine, LSD, heroine, sleeping tablet etc. These substances which are called drugs, become a problem when their consumption become habitual, when a craving develops, leading to worse or persistent social occupational, physical and psychological problems.

Print-media campaigns are a powerful means for disseminating health promotion messages. A wide and diverse audience can be reached through newspapers and roadside advertising hoardings. In the field of drug addiction and dependence, advertisements may contribute to shaping patterns of drug use and the intention to use drugs, as well as modifying mediators such as awareness, knowledge and attitudes about drugs.

However, ethical and economic considerations are often raised. Print-media campaigns—unlike other health interventions—are imposed on populations that have not consented to their implementation.1 This is a considerable ethical issue in modern, person-centred public health, where taking decisions shared with the public is essential for promoting behaviour change. Second, print-media campaigns can be very expensive, especially when implemented at the national or state level. Large-scale purchasing of public service announcement time during popular shows and broad dissemination via printed media are often accessible only to governmental institutions. For example, the first and second versions of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign cost 2.7 billion dollars over more than 10 years.2 Although such campaigns underwent careful evaluation, most print-media interventions are not developed in compliance with the classical circle of public health, which consists in designing interventions based on evidence and in evaluating their impact. A systematic review of the studies assessing print media campaigns aiming to prevent use of illicit drugs can inform future strategies and help design effective campaigns.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Drug abuse among youth in the society have various challenges to the society such as crimes, including the distortions of national   economies ,  monetary. Polices due to laundering of profits, narcotic, crimes (especially violence, cultism, assai sedation, and moral ,  decadence among our youth). The effects of drug abuse is detrimental not only to the individual but to the society as a whole, yet this problem is on the increase tent news about drug abuse involving ones in higher institution of learning, chouse the serious threat to our national scanty, can the electronic media as a vehicle for information dissemination be relied upon to perform its role in the society, to join hand in the battle against drug abuse?   Drug abuse have cause serious damages among secondary school student, higher institution, unemployed, prisoners, civil servants, politician, etc cannot be ignored although today newspaper, magazines and journal always read headlines as pressing gear, surprise and dismay over the use and abuse of drugs.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are:

1. To examine the issue of drugs abuse in Nigeria.

2. To ascertain the extent to which the print media has carried out campaign against drugs abuse in Nigeria.

3. To examine the challenges facing the print media in the campaign against drugs abuse in Nigeria.

4. To proffer a lasting solution to the issues of drugs abuse in Nigeria. 

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY   

The importance of this study to Nigerians cannot be over-emphasized. The study seeks to expose the possible outcome, consequence of drugs and addiction. It will educate student who are likely to be victims of drug abuse and addiction of their drawbacks.

This study will also educate unemployed, prisoners, civil servants, politician and the society at large on the danger of drugs abuse to human life.

This study is rewarding academically, economically and socially, it tends to real nature of such drug and their negative impact of those who abuse it, other than prescribed medical dosage.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION

1. How often do you see the issues of drugs abuse in Nigeria?
2. To what extent has the print media gone in the campaign against drugs abuse in Nigeria?
3. What challenges do the print media face in the campaign against fake drugs in Nigeria?
4. What are the solutions to these challenges of drugs abuse in Nigeria?

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

An assessment of the print media in the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria a study of the print media (A study of the punch newspaper).

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Wide research of this nature cannot be carried out without some constrains, this constrains pose a lot of limitation to this work.

1. Duration for the research work is relatively short
2. Stress emanated form other academic activities is also another constrain.
3. Financial constrain poses another challenges.

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