ABSTRACT
This study examines social and psychological effect of drug abuse among University Students in Benin City, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine the social effect of drugs abuse among University Students in Benin City, to investigate the psychological effects of drug abuse among University Students in Benin City, to compare the rate of abuse of drugs by Students in public and private University in Benin City, to find out the reasons for drug abuse among University Students in Benin City and to determine the strategies employed by Government and Schools to curb drug abuse among youths in Benin metropolis.
Respondents were selected from two (2) universities from Benin City (University of Benin and Benson Idahosa University. The data -were collected through personal administration of 460 copies of questionnaire through Google Form and had valid responses. The study also used frequency distribution, mean, and tables as major statistical tools for data analysis.
The analysis revealed that the social effect of drug abuse comprises of making those that indulge in it to become hyperactive, prone to violence, having a high feeling of themselves and becoming addicted to drugs. The psychological effect of drug abuse includes making students that indulges in it to be very aggressive and hostile to others, making students lack pleasure to do their academic Works; making students to be indolent and causing them to have a feeling of dejection, frustration, and hopelessness. The reasons for drug abuse are but not limited to having a feeling of relaxation, the need to increase sexual performance, the feeling of happiness and to boost one's confidence level as well as peer pressure. The proffer measures to curtailing the menace cause by drug abuse are the need for constant orientation of students by the guidance and counselling department, parental communication, and care to students; continuous orientation by the schools, religious centres, and NGOs on the negative effect of drug abuse and giving out punishment, rehabilitation and other related measures by schools' authority and government agencies.
Finally, the study recommends that the relevant government agencies such as National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other agencies charge with issue bothering on drug abuse should constantly organise seminars and programmes to enlighten students on the dangers of drug abuse, that the government agencies (NDLEA, NAFDAC and The Nigerian Police Force) responsible for the enforcement of laws against drug abuse; illegal production, sales and possession of hard drugs should mete out severe punishment on anyone student caught in the act of illicit drug use to serve as deterrent to others and that there is need for the practitioners or key players in educational sectors (guidance and counselling department, parents, school authority, religious centres and NGOs) to constantly educate students on the negative effect of drug abuse on their wellbeing and rehabilitating already affected students.
