JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

The growth of a nation is dependent on the moral development of its teeming youths. Reports have proved that Nigeria has the highest number of drug users in the world. Youths who abuse drugs engage in the act for various reasons which could be peer group influence, parental influence, suppression of frustration and just to get high or intimidate others. The economic situation of the country and lack of job opportunities have left some youths in the hands of drug peddlers. These peddlers as opportunists get profits from the sale to make a living. The paper introduced four theories of substance abuse as brainchildren of the writers. These are Pressurist Theory which states that one becomes addicted to drugs by peers. Association with peers at times can result to noxious behaviours rather than pleasant ones. Peers expose one to different activities that can be beneficial or harmful to one in future, the Genitor – Related Theory which states that addiction to drug is imitable as a child can resort to taking hard drugs through watching parent or parents, the Theory of Discontentment states that out of frustration the youths can embrace hard drugs to ease their predicament, and the Theory of Dependency which views the in-take of hard substance as a result of addiction, that is once an individual starts taking a hard drug, there is a high impossibility to withdraw from it unless adequate measures are taken to repress the act. It is recommended that counselling centres should be set up by Christian organisations to educate the youths to refrain from taking hard drugs and also men of God should take it as a paramount issue to be tackled while preaching on the pulpit on service days. Christian Youth Organisations are to move forward in disseminating information to youths on the dangers of hard drugs through holding seminars or workshops.