Effecting Community Efforts in Drug Abuse Control: A Study of Delta State Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effectiveness of some efforts that are made to control hard drug abuse and excess use of alcohol in Delta State Communities in Nigeria. The control efforts investigated were those of psychotherapists, community rules against drug and alcohol usage and efforts related to enforcement of these rules. Also investigated were efforts in the use of extra-curricular activities to control drugs use and efforts to check availability of the illegal drugs. The intention was to find out how much efforts are in place against drug usage and whether illegal drug and excess alcohol usage are effectively controlled in these communities. The purpose was for the research to have basis for making suggestions and recommendations for effective control where necessary. It was a descriptive study that used a survey design guided by six research questions. Data was collected through questionnaire and the chi-square method of data analysis was adopted. The result indicated that the various control measures were available in the three communities although their effectiveness was not significant. The researcher recommended that awareness education should be introduced while law enforcement agencies need to become more effective in their duties to control against illegal hard drug usage and use of excess alcohol.