Factors Affecting Entry into Drug Abuse among Youths in Lafia Metropolis

Description

Abuse of drugs by youths and its detrimental effects on security in Lafia Metropolis has recently attracted public attention. Given this background it is important to understand factors that influenced youths to take to drugs and the extent to which involvement in drugs has affected security in the Metropolis, ; and thus explore effective ways towards curbing it. A survey method was adopted with samples drawn from ten political wards in the Metropolis. Questionnaires were administered on 520 respondents with a satisfactory response rate of 76.92 percent. Bivariate analysis, logistic regression and multiple regression analyses were employed to evaluate the responses. The findings revealed that drug abuse was significantly practiced in the Metropolis due to lack of parental control, easy access to drugs, and emerging street culture of gangsterism. The implications of these on urban security were noted on incessant scuffle and street fighting, increase confrontation with the police, accidents and injuries, robbery and theft.