Project – Drug Abuse and Crime Management among Young Adults: A Study of Selected Local Government Areas in Lagos State

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Drug abuse and the non-medical use of psychoactive substances constitute important public-health, social and security concerns because the effects of substance use can extend beyond the individual user to families, communities and public institutions. Psychoactive substances may affect judgement, impulse control, physical and psychological functioning, interpersonal relationships and participation in productive activities. The National Survey on Drug Use in Nigeria conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other partners, estimated that 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15–64 years, representing approximately 14.3 million people, had used a psychoactive drug other than alcohol and tobacco in the previous year. The survey identified cannabis as the most commonly used drug and also documented substantial non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids such as tramadol, codeine and morphine. The report further indicated that the highest levels of any past-year drug use occurred among persons aged 25–39 years, making young adults an important population for research on drug use and its social consequences (National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] & United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2019).

The issue of drug abuse is particularly relevant to young adults because this stage of life is associated with educational transition, employment seeking, increased independence, peer interaction and exposure to different social environments. The Nigerian national drug-use survey found that the average age of initiation for cannabis use was approximately 19 years, while the age distribution showed substantial levels of drug use among people in their twenties and thirties. The survey also found that drug users experienced consequences affecting school, work, family relationships and interactions with law-enforcement institutions. These findings suggest that drug abuse among young adults should not be viewed exclusively as an individual health problem; it may also have implications for social stability, productivity and public safety (NBS & UNODC, 2019).

Lagos State provides an important setting for examining this issue because of its large urban population, socioeconomic diversity, high population mobility and concentration of educational, commercial and employment activities. Empirical research conducted among secondary-school students in two Local Government/Local Council Development Areas in Lagos—Ikotun/Igando and Ikoyi—found measurable lifetime, recent and current use of several psychoactive substances. Soremekun, Folorunso and Adeyemi (2020) reported that among 1,048 students, alcohol had the highest lifetime prevalence at 29.1%, followed by pharmaceutical opioids at 9%, while socioeconomic location, gender, educational level and school characteristics were associated with differences in drug-use patterns. Although that study focused on adolescents rather than young adults, its findings demonstrate the existence of drug-use patterns within different socioeconomic environments of Lagos and provide a basis for examining substance use across the broader youth population (Soremekun et al., 2020).

Drug abuse becomes a crime-management concern when substance use intersects with criminal behaviour, victimisation, public disorder and other security challenges. The relationship, however, should not be interpreted as automatic because not every person who uses drugs engages in crime, and crime may itself have multiple social, economic and environmental causes. Goldstein’s (1985) tripartite framework provides a useful explanation of the relationship through pharmacological, economic-compulsive and systemic pathways. Under the pharmacological pathway, intoxication or withdrawal may contribute to behaviour associated with aggression or impaired judgement; the economic-compulsive pathway concerns criminal activity undertaken to obtain resources for drug use; while the systemic pathway concerns violence associated with the illegal drug market. Nigerian research has similarly documented associations between drug abuse and criminal or antisocial behaviour without suggesting that substance use is the sole explanation for crime (Goldstein, 1985; Ikoh et al., 2019).

Evidence from Lagos provides more direct support for investigating the drug-crime relationship within local communities. Oluwole, Habibat and Gandonu (2018) examined the influence of drug abuse on adolescent criminality in Lagos using respondents drawn from randomly selected Local Government Areas representing urban, semi-urban and rural communities. Their study specifically investigated drug abuse in relation to criminal behaviour, thereby demonstrating the relevance of examining substance use and crime within the Lagos urban environment. More recent research on Southwest Nigeria has also examined the relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour among youths, identifying the interaction between substance use, social environment and criminal conduct as a significant area of concern (Oluwole et al., 2018; Ajiboye & Olademo, 2025).

The social environment surrounding young adults can also influence the initiation and continuation of drug use. Factors such as peer influence, family relationships, accessibility of drugs, social pressures, economic difficulties and exposure to drug-using networks can shape patterns of substance use. Ikoh et al. (2019), in a study of youths in Lafia Metropolis, found that lack of parental control, easy access to drugs and emerging street culture were among factors associated with drug abuse, while the reported security implications included street fighting, confrontation with police, accidents, robbery and theft. Similarly, research among university students in Lagos found that respondents reported motivations such as seeking pleasurable effects, reducing stress and coping with emotional difficulties, indicating that the causes of substance use are multidimensional rather than reducible to a single factor (Ikoh et al., 2019; Onyeonoru et al., 2016).

Drug abuse also has implications for the ability of government and security institutions to manage crime effectively. The Nigerian national drug-use survey reported that a substantial proportion of high-risk drug users experienced problems associated with their drug use and that some reported arrests for drug-related offences as well as theft, burglary and shoplifting. The report further found that many high-risk drug users considered access to treatment difficult and identified treatment cost and stigma as barriers. These findings demonstrate that crime management in relation to drug abuse requires more than arrests and prosecution; it also involves prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, public education and reduction of the conditions that sustain problematic drug use (NBS & UNODC, 2019).

The need for a multidimensional crime-management approach is further supported by recent research among university students in Southwest Nigeria. Olanrewaju et al. (2022), in a cross-sectional study involving 400 undergraduates aged 15–29 years across four Southwestern Nigerian universities, reported a drug and substance abuse prevalence of 45.7% within their sample. The study found particularly high use of alcohol and cigarettes and reported substantial use of codeine-containing syrup and tramadol. Importantly, the researchers found that awareness of risks did not necessarily eliminate substance abuse, suggesting that information alone may be insufficient to prevent drug use. Effective crime-management strategies therefore need to operate alongside health education, counselling, treatment services, family interventions, youth development and community-based prevention programmes (Olanrewaju et al., 2022).

Crime management in the context of drug abuse also requires coordination among security agencies, health institutions, educational institutions, families, community organisations and government authorities. The national drug-use survey recommended an evidence-based approach to prevention, treatment and care and highlighted the importance of balancing drug-control enforcement with access to treatment services. This is important because a purely punitive approach may address possession and trafficking while failing to address dependence and other underlying causes of problematic drug use. In Lagos, where drug-use patterns differ across socioeconomic environments, localised crime-management strategies may therefore be necessary to address differences in access, availability, social networks, treatment opportunities and exposure to criminal environments (NBS & UNODC, 2019; Soremekun et al., 2020).

Against this background, the present study focuses on Drug Abuse and Crime Management among Young Adults in Selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State. The study is concerned with the extent to which drug abuse is associated with criminal behaviour and the strategies used by relevant institutions and communities to prevent and manage drug-related crime. It also recognises that drug use and crime are influenced by multiple factors and therefore seeks to examine prevention, law enforcement, counselling, rehabilitation, public enlightenment and community-based approaches. By focusing on selected Local Government Areas, the study is expected to generate local-level evidence that can complement broader national statistics and assist stakeholders in understanding the relationship between drug abuse and crime management among young adults in Lagos State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Drug abuse among young people has become an important public-health and social concern in Nigeria. The National Drug Use Survey estimated that 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15–64 years had used a psychoactive substance other than alcohol and tobacco during the previous year, with cannabis, pharmaceutical opioids and cough syrups among the substances commonly reported. The survey also showed that the highest levels of overall drug use were concentrated among people aged 25–39 years. This creates concern about the potential social consequences of substance use among young adults, particularly where drug use occurs alongside unemployment, social disadvantage, peer influence and exposure to criminal networks (NBS & UNODC, 2019).

The problem is particularly relevant to Lagos State because empirical studies have documented drug use among young people in different parts of the state. Soremekun et al. (2020), for example, found measurable use of alcohol, pharmaceutical opioids, tobacco, cannabis and other substances among students in two Lagos local government areas. Oluwole et al. (2018) also investigated the relationship between drug abuse and adolescent criminality using respondents from different types of communities in Lagos. These findings indicate that substance use and its relationship with behaviour are not merely national-level issues but have specific local dimensions within Lagos. However, much of the existing research has focused either on prevalence among students or on adolescent criminality, leaving a need for further examination of drug abuse and crime management specifically among young adults in selected Local Government Areas (Soremekun et al., 2020; Oluwole et al., 2018).

Another problem concerns the complexity of the relationship between drug abuse and crime. While research has identified associations between substance use and criminal or antisocial behaviour, drug abuse cannot be regarded as the sole cause of crime. Goldstein’s (1985) framework suggests that drug-crime relationships may operate through different mechanisms, including intoxication, economic compulsion and the illegal drug market. Similarly, Ikoh et al. (2019) found that youth drug abuse was associated with several security-related outcomes, including street fighting, confrontation with police, robbery and theft, but also identified social factors such as parental control, drug accessibility and street culture as important influences. This means that crime-management responses need to address both substance use and the wider social environment in which drug-related problems develop (Goldstein, 1985; Ikoh et al., 2019).

A further problem concerns the adequacy and coordination of existing crime-management strategies. Although drug-control efforts may involve law enforcement, public awareness, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and community interventions, evidence from the Nigerian national survey indicates that access to treatment remains difficult for many high-risk drug users, with cost and stigma identified as important barriers. Olanrewaju et al. (2022) also demonstrated that substantial levels of substance abuse can occur even where awareness of drug-related risks is high. Consequently, there is a need to determine the extent to which existing strategies are reaching young adults, reducing drug-related criminal behaviour and addressing the social and health dimensions of drug abuse in Lagos State (NBS & UNODC, 2019; Olanrewaju et al., 2022).

The central problem addressed by this study is therefore the need for empirical evidence concerning the relationship between drug abuse and crime management among young adults in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State. Existing evidence establishes that drug use occurs among young people in Lagos and that researchers have identified connections between substance use and criminal behaviour, but further local-level investigation is necessary to understand the specific forms of drug abuse, crime-related consequences and crime-management strategies experienced within selected communities. The study therefore seeks to provide evidence that can assist government agencies, law-enforcement institutions, health professionals, community organisations, families and other stakeholders in developing appropriate responses to drug-related crime among young adults.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine drug abuse and crime management among young adults in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. examine the prevalence and common forms of drug abuse among young adults in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State;
2. identify the major factors contributing to drug abuse among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas;
3. examine the relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas; and
4. assess the crime-management strategies used by relevant government agencies, security institutions, health professionals and community stakeholders to address drug-related crime among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What is the prevalence and what are the common forms of drug abuse among young adults in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State?
2. What factors contribute to drug abuse among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas?
3. What relationship exists between drug abuse and criminal behaviour among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas?
4. What crime-management strategies are used by relevant government agencies, security institutions, health professionals and community stakeholders to address drug-related crime among young adults in the selected Local Government Areas?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour among young adults in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to the Lagos State Government because it will provide empirical information concerning the relationship between drug abuse and crime among young adults. The findings may assist relevant government ministries, departments and agencies in developing evidence-based programmes for drug prevention, youth development, rehabilitation and crime reduction.

The study will be useful to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security institutions involved in drug-control and crime-management activities. The findings may provide information on patterns of drug abuse and forms of criminal behaviour associated with drug use, thereby contributing to the development of prevention, enforcement, intelligence and community-based intervention strategies.

The study will also be important to health professionals, counselling psychologists and rehabilitation practitioners. Drug abuse is not exclusively a criminal-justice issue; it can involve dependence, psychological problems, family difficulties and social consequences. The findings may therefore assist professionals in understanding the factors associated with drug abuse among young adults and in designing appropriate counselling, treatment and rehabilitation interventions.

The study will benefit parents, families, religious organisations, educational institutions and community organisations by providing information about factors that may expose young adults to drug abuse and drug-related criminal behaviour. Such information may support preventive education, mentoring, family support, peer intervention and community awareness programmes.

The study will also contribute to academic literature on substance use and crime in Nigeria. Existing research has examined drug use among students in Lagos and the relationship between drug abuse and adolescent criminality, but this study will focus specifically on young adults and crime-management strategies within selected Local Government Areas. It may therefore provide a useful basis for future studies in criminology, sociology, psychology, public health, social work, security studies and related disciplines.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study is titled Drug Abuse and Crime Management among Young Adults: A Study of Selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

Content Scope

The study will cover four major areas: the prevalence and forms of drug abuse among young adults; factors contributing to drug abuse; the relationship between drug abuse and criminal behaviour; and crime-management strategies for addressing drug-related crime.

The study will consider commonly reported substances such as cannabis, pharmaceutical opioids, codeine-containing preparations, alcohol, tobacco, sedatives and other psychoactive substances. The study will distinguish between legal substances used appropriately and their misuse or non-medical use.

Geographical Scope

The study will be conducted in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State. For the purpose of providing a manageable geographical focus, Mushin and Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas may be adopted as the selected study areas. These locations provide urban settings in which young adults interact within diverse residential, commercial, educational and social environments.

Population Scope

The population will comprise young adults within the age range adopted by the study, together with selected stakeholders relevant to crime management, where necessary. These may include community leaders, health workers, counsellors, law-enforcement personnel and other stakeholders involved in drug prevention and crime management.

Thematic Delimitation

The study will focus on drug abuse as a factor associated with criminal behaviour and on the strategies used to prevent and manage drug-related crime. It will not attempt to investigate every cause of crime in Lagos State or every aspect of drug trafficking and organised crime.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Crime: Any act or omission prohibited by law and punishable by the state.

Crime Management: The organised processes and measures used by government institutions, security agencies, health professionals and communities to prevent, detect, control and respond to criminal behaviour.

Crime Prevention: Actions and programmes designed to reduce the likelihood of criminal behaviour and minimise opportunities for crime.

Drug Abuse: The harmful, excessive or inappropriate use of psychoactive substances, including use in ways that are inconsistent with accepted medical or social purposes and that may result in physical, psychological or social harm.

Drug-Related Crime: Criminal behaviour directly or indirectly associated with the production, possession, distribution, sale, use or consequences of psychoactive substances.

Young Adults: Young persons within the age range specified by the researcher for the study. For this study, the operational age range will be 18–35 years.

Psychoactive Substance: A substance that affects the functioning of the central nervous system and may alter mood, perception, consciousness, cognition or behaviour.

Substance Use: The consumption or administration of a psychoactive substance. In this study, the term may include both medically appropriate and non-medical use, depending on context.

Drug Dependence: A condition characterised by a strong or persistent desire to use a substance and continued use despite harmful consequences.

Crime-Management Strategy: A specific approach or intervention used to prevent, control or respond to crime, including law enforcement, public enlightenment, counselling, rehabilitation, community surveillance and youth-oriented prevention programmes.

Local Government Area: A legally recognised administrative unit of government at the grassroots level in Nigeria.

Lagos State: A state in southwestern Nigeria and the geographical setting of the study.

1.9 Organisation of the Study

The study will be organised into five chapters. Chapter One presents the introduction, background to the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research questions, hypothesis, significance of the study, scope of the study and operational definition of terms. Chapter Two will review relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literature on drug abuse, young adults, criminal behaviour and crime-management strategies. Chapter Three will present the research methodology, including the research design, population of the study, sample size, sampling technique, research instrument, validity, reliability, data-collection procedure and method of data analysis. Chapter Four will present and analyse the data collected from respondents and discuss the findings in relation to the research questions and hypothesis. Chapter Five will present the summary of findings, conclusion, recommendations and suggestions for further studies.

Project – Drug Abuse and Crime Management among Young Adults: A Study of Selected Local Government Areas in Lagos State