CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTIONÂÂÂ
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
One of the Founding Fathers of America, Benjamin Rush, was one of the first to believe that alcoholism was not a matter of personal willpower, but rather due to the alcohol itself. Rush challenged the accepted belief at the time that alcoholism was a moral failing, thereby progressing the concept of addiction as a disease. Per the University of Utah, in the past, addiction was treated as a criminal offense, with intensive faith-based prayer, or in mental institutions, but this signified a shift to viewing addiction as an illness that could be managed. As drugs have been abused for hundreds of years all over the world, their effects have been felt for just as long. Since drugs have been used, there were always those who abused them, which led to full-blown addiction and the bevy of side effects that come with it. As the physical and mental health implications of addiction became clearer, rehabilitation efforts began to appear. As a result, the history of rehabilitation in the United States dates back hundreds of years. Nigeria, relatively is not an exception. According to Microsoft Encarta 2009 (accessed May 2018), drug is a substance that affects the function of living cells, used in medicine to diagnose, cure, prevent the occurrence of diseases and disorders, and prolong the life of patients with incurable conditions. Drug abuse however, is characterized by taking more than the recommended dose of prescription drugs such as barbiturates without medical supervision, or using government-controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other illegal substances. Legal substances, such as alcohol and nicotine, are also abused by many people. Abuse of drugs and other substances can lead to physical and psychological dependence.          The present trend of high incidence of criminal offences, as rape, arm robbery, secret cult practices, prostitutions and psychiatric causes which has lead to the high mortality rate of our youths has remain an issue of concern to the society.          There is a general understanding that the perpetrators of these evils must belong to families who characters and morals are questionable. Should the family alone be criticized or do youths share in this criticism? What is actually responsible for the moral decadences existing in the society? The answer to this is that youths have resorted to misuse and abuse of drugs.          Drug abuse is the excessive and improper use of drugs which may alter the normal functioning of the body mechanism. According to ogden (2004:35), drug abuse is the use of drugs for other than regular medical purposes and in ways that results in physical or psychological harm to the user.          Next to human suicide is the abuse of drug which has eaten deep into the fabrics of our youths. The use of psychoactive drugs has taken symbolic significance in our youths’ culture. Drug abuse is prevalent among the teenage population. This is because adolescence according to Egereonu (2004) is seen as a critical stage of development and a period of storm and stress. A stage of Heightened emotionality, a stage of contradiction of society norms, a stage where school and financial problems becomes meaningful and a period of drug experimentation where peer group influence friends. Thus he resorts to drugs as a means of escaping from reality.          Numerous explanations have been given by people on why they take certain drugs. This according to Egeronu (2004) ranges from relief of anxiety, peer ground influence, satisfaction of their curiosity and escape from realities of life. Others are to adjust with poor academic performance; boost their ego which will help them to cope with problems, fear and pressures of everyday life.          Increase in drug abuse, misuse addiction and dependency constitute an important, social, educational and health problems in our society. Drug addicts are exposed to different health implications such as madness, lung cancer, and heart failures etc. which are menace to the society as well.