GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH IN KANO METROPOLIS: IMPLICATION FOR FAMILY WELLBEING AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the gender differences in the patterns of substance abuse among out of school youths in Kano metropolis. The study was guided by four objectives and four research questions. The study adopted descriptive survey design and the population of the study comprises of out of school youths who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. A sample of 463 out of school youths were drawn from eight local government areas in Kano metropolis, 257 male and 206 female respectively. Purposive sampling technique was used in the study and instrument for data collection was Patterns of Drug Abuse among Out of School Youths Questionnaire (PDAOSYQ). The data generated was analysed using descriptive statistic/frequency count and simple percentage. The findings from the study reveal that the common substance abused by male and female out of school youths in Kano metropolis includes alcohol, cigarette and Shisha, marijuana, syrups and tramadol, among others. While the male drug abusers smoke cigarettes and shisha, the female drug abusers abused syrups. The predisposing factors for drug abuse for male are mainly peer group influence while for females, it is lack of parental support and family care. Among these predisposing factors are influences to start abusing, influences to continue abusing, influences to stop abusing and influences an client to relapse back to abusing drugs. Mental health problems (213; 82.9%) among males and among female (174; 84.5%) were found to be among the effects of substances abused by the respondents. In addition, Physical health problems among 211 (97.7%) males and 173 (96.6%) females were equally considered as the effects of drug abuse. The paper recommends that Government should introduce adult education classes and skills acquisition centres across the Kano metropolis with a view to rechanneling the energy of out- of- school youths to personal and community development as viable preventive mechanisms to drug abuse.