WEEK 4, 2ND TERM CIVIC EDUCATION
SUBJECT: CIVIC EDUCATION
TOPIC: DRUG AND DRUG ABUSE
DRUG is a chemical substance used in treatment, cure, prevention or diagnosis of disease or used to
otherwise enhance physical and mental well-being. Drug interfer with the human system and can be used
for both good and bad purposes. For example drug can be used to treat diseases thereby saving and
improving the quality of life.
DRUG ABUSE: Drug abuse can be seen as the misuse of legal and illegal drug. Legal drugs are the ones
permitted under law. They usually serve as therapeutic purposes. However, use of prescription drugs
without doctors prescription, amounts to drug abuse. Similarly, using drugs at a greater quantity than
prescribed (overdose) also amounts to drug abuse. Using legal drugs for purpose they are not meant for
also amounts to drug abuse. Illegal drugs on the other hand are the ones not permitted under the law
because of their destructive effects on the mental and physical health of users
DRUG TRAFFICKING: Drug trafficking can be defined as unlawful cultivation, production, distribution and
marketing of substance or drugs which are prohibited by law
RECREATIONAL DRUGS: These are drugs taken not necessarily to treat ailments but to give pleasure. In
other words, they are mostly taken for recreation, however, recreational drugs such as heroin and cocaine
maybe used for medical purposes in extremely rare cases under controlled conditions. Most recreational
drugs are psychoactive also called (psychotropic) meaning that they affect brain function and can lead to
change in mood perceptions
EXAMPLES OF RECREATIONAL DRUGS AND HOW THEY CAN BE ABUSED
1. TOBACCO: It is a herbal drug that contains nicotine. It usually smoked in the form of cigarette.
Although tobacco is legal in most societies except in designated public places, it prolonged used has
many negative physical and psychological effects. It can results in addiction and there have been
scientific links and cancer
2. INDIAN HEMP: This is one of the most commonly abused drugs. In Nigeria, it has many names such as
pot, wewe, gbanar, grass, marijuana, Igbo and ganja. It is usually smoked
3. HEROIN: Medically used for pains and cough. It is usually abused through intravenous injection but can
also be inhaled
4. COCAINE: This is made from coca leaf . It is stimulant taken by addicts to feel high, boost sexual
performance and suppress appetite among many other uses. It is smoked with pipe and also inhaled.
Medically, it is sometimes used as an anaesthetic for operations
5. STEROIDS: Theses are synthetic substance. Though legally used to treat muscle and vein problems, it
can be abused especially by sports men and women because it is believed that athletes using steroid
would not easily be tired. It is often injected. This gives them unfair advantage over opponents
6. ALCOHOL: This is a psychoactive drug. Scientifically called ethanol, it is reported to offer some medical
benefits in the treatment of heart disease, stroke, and other ailments, however, it can be used in
beverages such as beer, whisky and wine.
SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE
1. Family signs and symptoms: Exhibiting lackadaisical attitude towards laws and parents, sneaking to
unusual and secret places, isolation from family members, avoiding family affairs
2. Physical signs and symptoms: Frequent minor illness such as sluggishness, frequent naps etc, smell of
substance like cocaine, marijuana, alcohol etc
3. Social signs and symptoms: Over popularity and excessive greetings in a noisy way with friends,
breaking of rules and regulations
4. School signs and symptoms: Fighting always with teachers and students, sleeping in class, hating
school, frequent truancy
5. Emotional signs and symptoms: This include talking to oneself repeatedly, smile and laughter, traces of
madness, violent such as shooting, killing, stabbing, breaking bottles etc.
EFFECTS OR CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE
1. Drug abuse leads to untimely death among the victims who are addicted to it
2. Drug abuse also brings about mental disorder or madness and insanity among the victims
3. Many victims who are drug victims end up becoming wayward, destitute and thereby causing more
problems and challenges for the society
4. Drug addict are also fond of creating sociay vices and causing social/moral decadence like rape,
cultism, robbery, fraud and terrorism. So, it causes more problems for the society
5. Drug abuse can cause allergy. For example, some addict take cocaine as appetite suppressants to
artificially resist hunger
6. It causes depression: Depression is a bad mood characterized by feelings for anxiety, hopelessness,
sadness, worthlessness and shame among others
7. It causes accident: Drug addiction increases the rate of a accidents in the society, often leading to loss
of lives and property. For example, drivers who are drunk may lose concentration thereby endangering
their lives and those of other road users
CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE
There are several causes of drug abuse. They include the following:
1. Doubt: Some people do not believe in the prescription made by medical doctors over the intake of drug.
Sometimes, they deliberately want to do the opposite of the prescription
2. Psychological trauma: Some believe that the best way they can cure psychological problems like
depression, sorrow, anxiety, frustration, sadness etc is to remain under the influence of drugs
3. Inspiration: People such as musicians, athletes, students, drivers believe that the easiest way to gain
inspiration is to remain under the influence of drug
4. Poverty: Some believe that the only way to shift their minds away from poverty is to remain under the
influence of drug. It will also enable them to commit such crime as killing, stealing, robbing etc
5. Bad influence: Some people keep bad company of friends, neighbours, colleagues who can lure them
into drinking, smoking, engaging in immoral behavior
6. Boldness: Some people are naturally shy, gentle etc. As a result, to overcome such habit and to be able
to be bold enough to face people in public
7. Easy access to drugs: Many parents, friends and neighbors deals with drugs, thereby keeping drugs
within the reach of their children, friends and neighbors. People who have access to drugs can decide to
abuse, swallow, inject and rub in order to feel how it tastes
PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE
1. Enlightenment: It could be done in the electronic and print media. Posters and handbills are also
important media of enlightenment. Religious leaders, government and non-government organization can
also play their part in enlightening the dangers of drug abuse
2. Blocking the source of supply: This could be done by checking the activities of drug traffickers. One
way of doing this, is securing our land borders, seas and airports
3. Proper upbringing of children: parents and guardians should do all they can to let their children and
wards understand the dangers of drug abuse. One of the ways of doing this is leading by example.
Parents and guardians should therefore stay away from drugs and bring up their children to do the same.
4. Stiff punishment for drug traffickers: There should be severe punishment for those who manufacture,
sell and distribute hard drugs. This will serve as a deterrent to others and hopefully reduce, if not
eliminate drug abuse
5. Strengthening law making and enforcement: There is need to make new laws as well as strengthening
existing ones to tackle the problem of drug trafficking, abuse and adulteration. Existing drug laws need to
be regularly reviewed to strengthen drug enforcement agencies as well as stipulating tougher
punishment for illicit drug traffickers and merchants. This would serve as a deterrent to potential
offenders
6. The school: The school at all levels should include the topic of fighting against drug abuse in their
curriculums in subject like social studies, Civic Education, Diplomacy, History/International relations, to
help orientates students and pupils on the dangers of drug abuse
7. The Constitution: The Constitution of the state should be reviewed by government to emphasize the
dangers of drug abuse and the punishment it entails
8. The police/security agencies: The police and all forms of security agents should seriously fight against
the public sales of hard drugs which are prohibited in the Constitution of the state. Any offender caught
should be charged seriously either with a specific jail term or the necessary punishment as contained in
the Constitution of the state
9. Religious leaders: All form s of religious leaders should use the Holy books to teach on the dangers of
drug abuse including the message of heaven, etc. This will help reduce the act of drug abuse in the
society
