CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Student’s attitudes towards the drug issue are significant because it is doubtful whether drug-related policies will ultimately succeed without the backing (the belief and support) of the public whom policy makers have a duty to satisfy (Leitner, Shapland & Wiles, 2003; Room, Graves, Giesbrecht & Greenfield, 2005). This backing is dependent upon, inter alia, the accuracy of the public's drug-related knowledge and the nature of the public's attitudes towards drug users (Fraser & Moore, 2008).

Drug abuse has increased all over the world and the age of initiation of abuse is progressively falling. Earlier initiation of drug use is found to have more impairment, crime, and difficult to quit. High knowledge of harmful effects of substance was reported in students (Schwarz, 2007; Gassman et al, 2001; Giannetti et al, 2002; Prakash et al, 2009; Tsering et al, 2010), school educators (Moreira et al, 2009), health professionals (Coles et al, 2002; Happell et al, 2002) and general public (Bryan et al, 2000) and a

positive relationship was found between knowledge about substance abuse and their attitudes toward it (Schwarz, 2007; Gassman et al, 2001; Giannetti et al, 2002).

The accuracy of the public's drug-related knowledge is significant because inaccurate information may influence the general public to support drug policies based on invalid assumptions (Keene, 2007). The public's attitudes towards drug users are important in that it has been suggested that the rehabilitation and re-integration of drug-addicted individuals into mainstream society cannot be achieved until societal attitudes are positive and accepting (Low, Zulkifli, Yusof, Batumalail & Aye, 2006; MacGréil, 2006).

Alcohol and drug abuse has been an integral part of societies throughout history. Use of drugs has been considered statistically normal in many parts of the world. Only recently, have human beings become aware of the dangers of drugs. Use of drugs therefore turns to drug abuse when drugs violate societal norms for the frequency, duration and intensity of ingestion or norms governing the social context within which the substances are used (Miruka, 2006).

Abuse of drug tend to lead to unbecoming behavior such as general unrest among the students is a clear manifestation of rampant drug use. The students being very energetic and lack of avenues to release pressures like unemployment, idleness, school dropouts and lack of adequate and affordable recreational facilities serve to encourage them even more towards drug abuse.

In most schools, mass media is a very powerful instrumental or agent that contributes to student’s drug abuse. Many students become stressed from their lives at schools and socially end up being introduced to drugs through what they read, watch and their peer groups. This further increases their stress levels and can lead to harmful ways of relieving this stress.

Alcohol taking constantly showcased in the movies, music, video and television programs often entrenches the peer pressure on drug abuse. The popular artists, some of whom are role models for students, do not help them when they appear on alcohol advertisements (Hann, 2012).

According to Chesile (2006), manufacturing industries producing-tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical, drug-glamorizing, promotes drug abuse. He also observed that entertainment media, music, fashion paraphernalia and advertising industry play a great role in drug abuse. Television not only dominates leisure and family time, it powerfully affects our attitude, behaviors’ and relationships like any other kind of communication.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        A drug abuser may be defined as an individual who has relinquished control over his/her life to psychoactive substances. This condition produces altered neurological functions, and changed perceptions, moods, consciousness and energy levels.

        Drug abuse among students has been on the rise particularly amongst Noun students. Despite the numerous anti-drugs campaigns by the mass media. The challenge could be that there are no reasonable punishments for the defaulters, such that others may take precautions. Finally, several researches has been carried out on the mass media and drug abuse information in Nigeria but not even a single research has been carried out on the sources and attitude of Noun state towards drug abuse information in the mass media.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to determine the sources and attitude of noun student towards drug abuse information in the mass media. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the factors affecting the attitude of Noun students towards drug abuse information in mass media.
2. to determine the effect of drug abuse information in mass media on the attitude of Noun students.
3. to determine the extent to which drug abuse information in mass media affects the attitude of Noun students.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS       

1      What are the factors affecting the attitude of Noun students towards drug abuse information in mass media?

2      What is the effect of drug abuse information in mass media on the attitude of Noun students?

3      What is the extent to which drug abuse information in mass media affects the attitude of Noun students?

4      What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:   mass media information on drug abuse has no significant effect on Noun student’s attitude towards drug usage.

H1:      mass media information on drug abuse has a significant effect on Noun student’s attitude towards drug usage.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on the sources and attitude of students towards drug abuse information in the mass media will be of immense benefit to the entire Noun in the sense that it will enable the school authority to checkmate the abuse of any drugs within and around the school as this may lead to conflict in the school and as well as school dropout. Practically, this study will be an important source of information for strategic decision- making for stakeholders of the anti-drug awareness campaign. It will also enable the government to address the issue of drug abuse through media and more so enumerate the penalty for any defaulters and then locate those that are in the business of distributing such kinds of drugs. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of studies and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on sources and attitude of noun student’s towards drug abuse information is limited to the mass media.

1.8   LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Source     A place, person, or thing from which something originates or can be obtained

Attitude  Truculent or uncooperative behaviour.

Noun           National Open University of Nigeria

Student   A student is primarily a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution who attends classes in a course to attain the appropriate level of mastery of a subject under the guidance of an instructor and who devotes time outside class to do whatever activities the instructor assigns that are necessary either for class preparation or to submit evidence of progress towards that mastery.

Drug Abuse     The habitual taking of illegal drugs.

Information    Facts provided or learned about something or someone.

Mass Media     The mass media is a diversified collection of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication.