The Socio and Psycho-Medical Implication of Substance Abuse In Nigeria

There are quite a number of drugs of abuse in different societies thereby making drug and substance abuse a major problem across the world. Any substance, of natural, artificial or synthetic origin, other than food that by its chemical nature alters structure or function in the living organism is referred to as drug. Drugs of abuse like cannabis, alcohol, tranquillo-sedatives and hypnotics, stimulants and morphine-type drugs have unique social and psycho-medical effects that by acting on the brain spread to the other parts of the body. This influences a lot of functions; the use of each of these drugs is, to a certain degree, capable of producing effects associated with psychosis and other drug-related problems that require some treatment and care in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The effects of a drug do not depend solely on chemical interactions with the body only, but the influences of expectancy; experience and mood also constitute strong determinants of drug's effects.

Autorentext

M. Haruna was born in Kano, Nigeria in 1958. He obtained B.Sc. Sociology (1982), M.Sc. Sociology (1986) from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria and a PhD. Sociology (1997) from Lancaster University, U.K. He is a Professor of Medical Sociology and was a Visiting Scholar, Cleveland State University, Ohio, (USA) in 2004 and a Senior Visiting Fulbright.