Alarm As Drug Abuse in Universities and Colleges Heightens

By Maawiya Mohammed

Drug abuse among university and college students is at an all-time high. The vice has become something normal, something that is fun to do. drugs and alcohol abuse is now considered one of the major ‘fun’ activities loved by university-goers. It is fast becoming a national crisis.

According to NACADA’s latest survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use, 2022, one in every 11 youths aged between 15-24 years are currently using at least one drug. Another stat revealed that among the youth in the said age bracket above, 193,430 of them were abusing cannabis. Further stats showed 367,608 of them were also abusing alcohol. Most of the youths in this age brackets are in universities and college attendees. This points out a very concerning issue. Drug abuse has become rampant in these institutions and if we don’t do something about it and fast, then the futures of our beloved motherland and that of our children hang in the balance. Seeing as these are the leaders of tomorrow, then we need to wake up and do something about it.

Most students who join universities enrol in institutions that necessitate living away from home due to the schools being far away. With this, comradeship developed and each friend has a specific need they are fulfilling for that specific comrade. Ultimately, in most cases, it is friendships that may lead a person to drugs and alcohol.
 
Another reason why students fall victim to drugs may be because of problems related to their personal, academic, or financial life. We all know some university courses may be difficult, an example can be medicine. So, when the going gets tough and the exams are going ‘bazooka’ on them, the students may turn to drugs and alcohol abuse as a means of coping.

When students in universities and colleges get into drugs there are a lot of things that could go wrong. Dropping out could be one of them. Crime rates may also rise as a result of drug abuse among students in universities and colleges. Students who drop out as a result of getting addicted to drugs and alcohol may also find it hard to make ends meet. Especially those whose parents are not financially stable. Students may also waste their parent’s money or the government’s if they lose interest in learning and drop out as a result of drug and substance addiction.

Now after discussing all that, how best can we help in ending this nation-crippling issue?
First things first, the government needs to develop and implement prevention and management programs tailored to students. The programs should amplify protective factors and reduce risk factors.
In addition, parents and lecturers in universities should constantly monitor the well-being of these young adults and look out for the signs of alcohol and drug abuse through evidence-based programming and interventions.