ABSTRACT  

Drug
abuse among youths in Nigeria has been a problem to the youths and the society
in General. The consequences of drug abuse are not only on the individual user
but also on his or her offspring, family and the society. To this effect, the
study seeks to assess institutional mechanism and appropriate ways in combating
drug abuse and other related drugs in Nigeria and to direct the youths on the
way to follow to become useful to themselves, their families and to the
Nigerian society at large. To achieve this, materials for this research were
sourced from primary and secondary sources and analyzed through qualitative
analysis. The study concluded that effects of drug abuse especially among our
youths and society are so devastating and therefore requires an effective and
appropriate mechanism in combating this menace. The institutional mechanism
recommended for this study will start from the family as an institution, school
as an institution, society as an institution, government as an institution and
lastly Church as an institution. Parents should train up their children in the
fear of the Lord and they should re-orientate them on the adverse of drug abuse
on their health, society and human dignity because charity begins at home as
they say, the Ministry of Education (Federal and State) should add to their
curricula “Drug Education” for both the primary, secondary and tertiary schools
in Nigeria. They should always organize lectures, seminars, rallies, film show
etc for the Nigerian youths on the effects of drug abuse. National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Abuse Control and
other control groups should not relent in carrying out their responsibilities
on drug abuse in order to make Nigeria a drug abuse free society with a special
focus on the Nigerian youths because they are the future leaders of this great
country, Nigeria. The Nigerian government as a whole should always be educating
the public on the dangers of drug abuse through awareness, programme for the
Nigerian youths and lastly, the church should not fail in her roles prayer,
preaching etc in order to control or stop drug abuse in the Nigerian society.