IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON DRUGS USAGE AMONG YOUTH
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IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON DRUGS USAGE AMONG YOUTH
Chapter one
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Drugs and drug use are frequently mentioned and reported in the media. Mass media includes not only traditional print sources such as newspapers and magazines, but also radio, television, advertising in a variety of formats, and new electronic media via the internet. Patients and drug consumers now rely heavily on media sources for drug information (Montagne, 2001).
There has recently been a surge of interest in the role of mass media in drug use, with a particular emphasis on alcohol, tobacco, and prescription pharmaceuticals, as well as its impact on adolescents (Strasburger & Donnerstein, 1999).
For example, magazines with a large number of teenage readers are more likely to include alcohol advertisements (King et al., 2009). Ninth-grade kids who listen to music containing marijuana references are twice as likely to use the substance as their peers who do not listen to such songs (Primack, Douglas, & Kraemer, 2010).
Exposure to onscreen smoking in films increases the likelihood that young people may start smoking. According to a YouTube video analysis, the majority of tobacco-related videos feature smoking behaviours and promote smoking (Elkin, Thom-son, & Wilson, 2010).
Mexican American adolescents are more likely to experiment with cigarettes if they have been repeatedly exposed to smoking scenes in films (Wilkinson et al., 2009).
Alcohol marketing has moved online, since the alcohol business increasingly uses a range of digital media platforms to promote alcohol goods, particularly to youthful audiences (Chester, Montgomery, & Dorfman, 2010).
To counter these images of drug use in the media, it has been proposed that preventive programmes instruct young people in media literacy, teaching them how to analyse messages and develop critical thinking skills (Kupersmidt, Scull, & Austin, 2010).
How influential is mass media in shaping society attitudes towards drugs and drug use? According to some research, the media has a role in inciting moral panic and strong societal reactions against specific drugs and drug users (Murji 1998). The issue is the quality of news coverage.
Coomber, Morris, and Dunn (2000) discovered that exaggeration, distortion, inaccuracy, and sensationalism are widespread in news reporting. Quality control procedures are infrequently used to verify that drug-related news accounts are accurately reported. Based on this research, the researcher intends to look into the impact of social media on drug use among young.
Statement of the Problem
A few studies have focused on the usage of illicit drugs among Nigerian youths. It may be said that Nigeria is suffering from the epidemic of drug and social media addiction. The problem is eating away at many young people at an alarming rate, but many are unaware of the danger.
Even though there is widespread agreement that drug abuse and social media consumption are harmful to one’s health, the prevalence of substance abuse and social media addiction has not received the same level of attention and campaigns as other social ills, despite the fact that it poses an imminent threat to Nigeria’s social fabric.
Many young people who are currently heavily involved in drug, substance, and social media use are finding it difficult to come clean. Their lives are shattered, with a gloomy and unknown future ahead.
Against this environment, despite the fact that drug prevention is a key priority in Nigeria, the situation has not improved. This study asserts that, despite numerous stakeholders’ attempts to increase awareness about substance misuse around the world and in Africa, more young people continue to consume substances.
It is critical to recognise that the consequences of substance misuse for families, communities, and nations as a whole cannot be overstated. As a result, this article will concentrate on substance addiction and social media consumption.
An assessment of the services put in place to address this issue will also be conducted. It is worth mentioning that in Nigeria, the majority of accessible studies focused on the impacts and impact of substance misuse, leaving a gap in knowledge to be filled by further research into how drug abuse links to social media.
Drug abuse and social media addiction are the most often abused substances in Africa, and Nigeria is no exception.
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