OPULATION AT DANGER ZONE: ANALYSIS OF YOUTH CONSUMPTION OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES IN APAPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAGOS STATE

Consumption of substances constitutes a health problem, especially among youth globally. Substances become a problem when they are consumed against professionals’ advice. Thus, this study analyses youth involvement in the consumption of psychotropic substances in Apapa Local Government, Lagos State. The study focused on the following objectives: to determine the predisposing factors to the harmful consumption of psychotropic substances; find out the types of psychotropic substances commonly consumed; examine the health problems associated with harmful consumption of psychotropic substances by the youths in Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Edwin Sutherland’s Differential Association theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the subject matter. A qualitative narrative research design with the use of an in-depth interview guide was employed to gain insight and understanding about the experiences of thirty-two (32) psychotropic users, who were selected from across six wards of the study area through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Findings revealed that lack of parental supervision; availability of drugs; and the need to gather extra energy to work for long hours, among others were largely responsible for harmful consumption of the substances. The various types of psychotropic substances consumed by youths in the study area include cannabis [popularly known as Indian hemp], alcohol, tramadol and codeine. The study further reveals that the youth involvement in harmful consumption of psychotropic substances had made them suffer health challenges, such as chronic cough, weight loss, tooth decay, bad breath, dry mouth and throat and headache. The study concludes that harmful consumption of psychotropic substances exposes youth to terminal illnesses and premature deaths. The study therefore recommends that treatment programs such as counselling, medication and other behavioural therapies should be readily available and be effective in attending to the multiple needs of addicted psychotropic users’ problems to mitigate their involvement in the consumption of the psychotropic substances.