ABSTRACT
This study was conducted at Lafia Nasarawa state about factors that contribute to alcoholism among youth. Youth aged 16 to 17 have the second highest rate (16.4%) of current alcohol abuse in the surveyed countries, and although consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal for people under 21 years of age, 10.4 million current drinkers are aged 12 to 20 and of this group, nearly half 5.1 million engage in binge drinking, including 2.3 million who would also be classified as heavy drinkers
The study used a descriptive research design with both qualitative and quantitative methods. A sample of 50 respondents was sampled using questionnaires. The data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft excel, then presented using tables and figures. The major factors contributing to alcoholism among the youth in Lafia were found to be, lack of full time employment leading to idleness of the youth, Peer group influence, easy accessibility, availability and affordability of alcohol in Lafia without any restrictions, Physical and emotional stress resulting from poor conditions of living leading to psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression, Chaotic home environments and child negligence leading to school dropouts, Lack of information about the disadvantages of alcoholism from the community development officers and policies to prevent the vice in the study area and the state at large.
The government and other stakeholders such as NGOs and CBOs should establish youth livelihood programs to combat idleness among the youth and should put in place bylaws on the time of opening bars and also the age of people allowed to drink and make sure that these bylaws are strictly enforced.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
This chapter presents the background of the study, problem statement, and purpose of the study, specific objectives, research questions and justification of the study.
1.1 Background of the study
Alcoholism remains a global public health challenge. Alcoholism refers to the harmful or hazardous use of alcohol (O' Donohue and Ferguson, 2012).
Globally alcoholism is felt both in developed and developing countries as evidenced in a study by Schuckit, Smith and Kalmijn (2014) carried out in the United States and Canada which showed that among youth aged between 12 to 17 years, an estimated 5.1 million meet the diagnostic criteria for substance abuse and 915,000 are dependent on alcohol.
Youth aged 16 to 17 have the second highest rate (16.4%) of current alcohol abuse in the surveyed countries, and although consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal for people under 21 years of age, 10.4 million current drinkers are aged 12 to 20 and of this group, nearly half 5.1 million engage in binge drinking, including 2.3 million who would also be classified as heavy drinkers (Schuckit, Smith and Kalmijn, 2014).
O' Donohue and Ferguson (2012) mention that in previous research carried out in African countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast and South Africa, findings have revealed that alcoholism among youth is prevalent and that on an average day in 2009, about 931,000 youth drank alcohol for the first time.
In East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, previous studies about alcoholism among the youth reveal that alcoholism is high as shown that in 2010, 26,457 youths were in outpatient treatment due to the negative effects of alcohol while 10,000 were in non-hospital residential treatment due to negative effects of alcohol abuse and 1000 in hospital in patient treatment due to the negative effects of alcohol (Kwamanga, Odhiambo and Amukoye, 2013).It was further estimated that on an average day in 2010, nearly 8,000 youth drank alcohol for the first time (Merkiangas, Stolar and Stevens, 2012).
The (2005) World Health Organization (WHO) report ranked Nigeria the leading consumer of alcohol in the world with a per capita consumption of 19.5 litres of alcohol per person per annum while the same report of 2012 ranked Nigeria the 3rd largest consumer of alcohol per person per annum. Kasirye (2010) of Nigeria Youth Development Link (UYDEL), in their study about substance abuse in Kampala schools showed that alcoholism is rampant among youth, even those in schools and higher institutions of learning as statistics from their study showed that (67%) admitted to occasional use of alcohol.
In Lafia, Nasarawa State, youth can be seen heavily engaging in negative and risky practices such as alcoholism yet this highly predisposes to many physical and health risks including accidents, school dropout, rape, increased exposure to HIV infection among many others. However, the particular factors contributing to alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State remain unknown and this study hence intends to find out these factors and come up with solutions to reduce/prevent alcoholism among the youth.
1.2 Problem Statement
Alcohol and substance abuse among youth aged 15 – 35 years remains an important public health problem which continues to affect youth worldwide that requires immediate address (Kasirye, 2010). Alcoholism among youth has many short and long term health effects on the individual as well as the community at large as it has been associated with dependence syndromes as well as behavioral, cognitive and physiological challenges (Kasirye, 2010).
Despite the efforts of Ministry of Health (MoH) and concerned programs like the Young Empowered and Healthy (Y.E.A.H) which sensitizes youth on the dangers of alcoholism, youth are still involved in these practices. In Lafia, Nasarawa State, youth are seen drinking alcohol throughout the day and night. This has led to increased levels of crime, petty theft, school drop outs, early pregnancy, and mental illness, poor interpersonal relationship development among many other negative and dangerous effects.
Although studies have been carried out in other areas of Nigeria about the problem of alcoholism among the youth, no known study has been carried out in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Thus a need to carry out this study to identify these factors associated with high alcoholism so as to devise solutions to mitigate them.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of the study was to identify the socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contributing to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State in an effort to develop appropriate interventions to reduce/prevent alcoholism among the youth.
1.4 Specific Objectives
1) To identify the socio cultural factors contributing to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
2) To determine the economic factors contributing to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
3) To assess the psychosocial factors contributing to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
1.5 Research Questions
1) What socio cultural factors contribute to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State?
2) What economic factors contribute to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State?
3) What psychosocial factors contribute to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State?
1.6 Justification of the study
This study identified the socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contributing to high alcoholism among youth in Lafia, Nasarawa State in order to scale up sensitization and health education programmes for youth about the dangers of alcoholism.
The findings were to assist the Ministry of Health Planners and Policy makers by identifying the potential areas which still require policy improvements as well as the development of national sensitization programs targeted at youths about the prevention of alcoholism.
The study was to assist youth in Lafia as they would be beneficiaries of improved and more appropriate sensitization and health education as well as improved effort about the prevention of alcoholism among the youth.
The study was also to provide a valuable point of reference for researchers carrying out similar studies in future and was also to contribute to the available literature on the socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contributing to alcoholism among youth.
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