THE IMPLICATIONS OF YOUTHS SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF MBAYION RURAL COMMUNITY IN GBOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE NIGERIA
Nguveren Kyernum
Department of Sociology
University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State, Nigeria
Email: nguverenkyernum@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Abuse of substances has become very common among Nigerians especially the youths, with the rural youths not been spared. This study examines the implications of youth’s substance abuse on the socio-economic development of rural Mbayion Community. The objectives pursued includes: identification of the most commonly abused substances in the study area, reasons for engaging into the habit, problems associated with substance abuse in Mbayion community, the social and economic implications of youths substance abuse on the development of the study area. The population of the study was the youths into substance abuse and all adult members of Mbayion community, from where stratified purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 175 respondents for study. Anchoring the research on the social learning theory, qualitative research design was applied, using structured and in-depth interview to collect data from 50 adults and 125 youths in substance abuse. Data were analysed through qualitative interpretive analysis, simple percentages and tables. Findings revealed that, marijuana and Alcohol (ogogolo), were the most commonly abused substances in the study area by youths of 13years and above, while smoking of Grey hair was discovered as a new substance used by some youths within the study area. Reasons for engaging into abuse of substances includes, peer influence, family problems, extra energy among others. Problems associated with this menace include, stealing, violence, gang formation, impaired performance among others. The socio-economic implications of these on rural community of Mbayion includes, complete takeover of the community by hoodlums, low, agricultural production and food scarcity, poverty and rural insecurity. It is the position of the paper that, youths substance abuse has negative implications on the socio-economic development of Mbayion It was recommended among other things that, parental training be encouraged, rehabilitation facilities be made available in the rural areas and serious community policing be ensured to curb substance abuse in the rural areas giving room for rural development and by extension, national development.
Key Words: Substance Abuse, Youths, Rural Community.
