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Substance Abuse among Youths in Nigeria: Implication for Community and National Health

M. G Elemile, C. B Bello, O. D. Akinwale

Abstract


The prevalence of substance abuse among Nigerian youths is a growing problem. Little has been documented on the role of community health nurses in the mitigation of substance abuse in Nigeria. Youth stage being a time of great physical and psychological change, many social and physical conditions as well as behavioral pattern can impact youths’ health and heighten the risk of illness and diseases. Youth is both a crucial source of the state and a force for change. They are the architects of social, economic, political, and cultural change of the nation.  Nigerian youths engage in substance due to various reasons ranging from ignorance, peer pressure, family background, and misconceptions among other factors. It was also found that substance abuse results in harmful effects on the individual, family, community, and the nation at large this has made the youths to be susceptible to various health issues by nature because of their stages of development. Therefore, community health nurses have significant roles to play to ensure optimal growth and development of young ones and to prevent and reduce the impact of changes associated with youth in the health and wellbeing them. This paper present consent of substance abuse and it implication on National health and the efforts of community health nurses in mitigating the effects of drug misuse in Nigeria.

 


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References


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