ABSTRACT
Substance abuse is a social problem that has spread and increased rapidly in our educational institutions even in secondary schools but especially among the under graduate students in Nigeria, this social mal adaptation is considered an issue of serious concern as it adversely affects the lives and performance of students involved as well as the harmonious functioning of the entire structure of the society the theoretical framework used in the study is theory of crime as basically the pursuit of self interest. Self interest and social control theory the two names, Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi (1990), are identified with general postulates that low self-control and social control can combine to predispose someone to criminality.

CHAPTER ONE
 1.1    INTRODUCTION  
Substance abuse is a social problem that has spread and increased rapidly in our educational institutions even in secondary schools but especially among the under graduate students in Nigeria, this social mal adaptation is considered an issue of serious concern as it adversely affects the lives and performance of students involved as well as the harmonious functioning of the entire structure of the society. Drug abuse and other associated problems are inimical to the survival and effective functioning of human societies. A significant number of untimely deaths and accidents have been ascribed to the activities of persons under the influence of one form of drug or the other.
Fayombo (1998) defined substance abuse as the use of mood modifying substances illegally, excessively and in a socially unacceptable manner.
The drugs ranges from those that should not even be taken without medical prescription such as cocaine, amphetamine, heroine, marijuana, LSD25 to the socially acceptable beverages such as whisky, local gin, beer and other alcoholic drinks.
Odejide (1997) viewed substance abuse as the improper use or application of drugs by a person without proper knowledge of the drugs and without due prescription from a qualified medical practitioner. This definition focuses on psychoactive drugs; all drugs can be abused to an extent that it turns into addiction when the drug user is unable to stop the use of drugs despite the harmful effects on the user's social, personal and economic lives.
The problem of substance abuse is so grave that though it was originally conceived as the problem of a 'select few', it has extended beyond the usual characteristics of abusers being male, adult and urban based people to now include female, youngsters and rural dwellers. These abusers of substance erroneously believe that drugs enhance their performance, put them in good mood, the accompany problems of this act constitute a major threat to the well-being of the society (Ajala, 2009).
The youths in Nigeria like many countries of the world are developing addiction to psychoactive substances. In 1992, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) collected drugs use and abuse data from schools, records of patients admitted at mental health institutions for drug problems and interview of persons arrested for drug offences. The result showed that youths constitute the high risk group for drug trafficking and abuse. Friends and school mates account for about 90% of the source of influence of the use and abuse of various psychoactive substances.
In Nigeria, alcohol and cigarette are legal substances but, the two have been discovered to cause physical damage to human bodies. These substances have also said to be "gateway drugs" to other more potent drugs like heroin and cocaine (UNDCP, 1988). In Nigeria, it has been reported that smoking (tobacco) causes 90% of lung cancer, 30% of all cancers, and 80% of other chronic lung diseases (Shokunbi, 1990).   Drug use and abuse is the primary reason why many youths are incarcerated, as well as a source of crime and health problem in our society today. It has become unprecedented problem in Nigeria that the number of youth incarcerated in various prisons across the country has increase dramatically over the last few decades caused by intake drugs and alcohol. As a matter of fact, majority of these youths have been arrested for drug offences, and/or have a drug abuse problem. Some of the factors contributing to this arrest are the public awareness of the danger in drug abuse and the "war on Drugs" declared by the Federal Government using various agencies like the NDLEA, NAFDAC etc. However, since the year the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was set-up in 1999, frantic efforts are being made to collect relevant information on drugs through variety of drug indicators for policy formulation. The impact of these agencies in terms of intervention strategies and control is tremendous.
The world today is witnessing an upsurge of issues that are of global dimension, for example drug abuse, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, environment degradation and pollution etc. The problems including drug abuse heralded an unending desire in our nation to sensitize her citizens especially the youths of the evil of drug use and abuse which has reach alarming stage. As a matter of fact the social effects of abuse of alcohol which include road accidents, loss of jobs, poor academic and job performances, instability family set up etc. are sources of concern to the government. According to Muoboghare (1988) coaches and athletes should be educated on the deceptive and negative effects of alcohol. He emphasized that this is necessary since alcohol is hyperagglesic, which is it raises the pain threshold; the individual is likely to continue to performance even with injury. This is morally unjust on the part of a coach. Criminals are noted to take alcohol in excess that even when they receive gunshot, may still put on a very high performance and escape with the injury without being caught. We have different types of drug abuse which is used by the youths in Nigeria; they include depressant, stimulants and hallucinogens.
Depressants include alcohol, barbiturates and heroin. Alcohol is perhaps the most used and abused drug in Nigeria (Ajala, 2009). Alcohol is used to offer prayers in many cultural ceremonies (libation), used for naming new born babies and freely served in ceremonies in Nigeria. Alcohol is a terrible downer, a sedative depressant of the Central Nervous System. It has been noted to increase violent behaviour and a major cause of fatal accident. Heroin is a white powdered substance derived from opium and usually taken by injection. It is a powerful depressant that provides euphorid; the abusers claimed that it is so pleasurable that it can eradicate any thought of food or sex. Barbiturate and sedatives are sleeping pills. Like narcotics, barbiturates exert calming effects on the Central Nervous System.
Stimulants are drugs that excite and sustain activity while diminishing symptoms of fatigue, cigarette, caffeine, amphetamines and cocaine belong to this group. Cocaine is the best known stimulant; it is swallowed, sniffed or injected. Hallucinogens produce hallucinations. These are drugs that induce changes in perceptions, thoughts and feelings; they are usually called "consciousness expanders". The most common hallucinogens in Nigeria are marijuana, known as Indian hemp or "Igbo". It produces euphoria and heightens enjoyment of food, music, sex and so on.

 1.2                STATEMENT OF PROBLEM  
The series of crime, cultism wars/fight has been linked to the use of substance abuse by students and this has been traced to undergraduate involvement with the wrong set of company of friends on campus, most students do not know the after effects of this drugs before they indulge in it, which results in violence like rape, murder and destruction of properties on campus under the influence of these drugs, the use of drugs are abused for various reasons. The earlier studies of Weil (1973),  Lief (1975) confirmed that search for pleasure motivates drug abusers to alter their state of consciousness. The studies confirmed that people abuse drugs for the enhancement of good feelings and used it as a means of coping with stress of life.
Idowu (1992) advanced these reasons for substance abuse in Nigeria: Intra-individual reasons, sex, physical or mental illness, personality make up, extra individual reasons, dependence producing nature of the drugs and availability.
Intra-individual reasons pertained to the individuals and these include age, sex, physical and mental illness. Odejide (1979, 1982) and Idowu (1987) have shown that young people especially adolescents and young adults are most prone to drug abuse. A survey carried out by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) revealed that they abuse drugs as early as age eleven (for prescribed drugs) and age 16 (for narcotic drugs). The reasons advanced by these students are: to feel on top like adults, to feel good, to get excited, to be like their friends and to be like stars. Odejide (1997, 1994), Idowu (1987) have shown that drug abuse is sex based, more males than females abused drugs. However, (Tanzi and Hedge, 1990; NDLEA, 1991) stated that there are as many males as there are females who abuse drugs. Individuals with physical or mental illness are more likely to use drug than those without such illness. These individuals are more pre-disposed to over-use of or over -dependence on drugs to control and treat such ailments. The use of these drugs outside medical prescription constitutes drug abuse. Within the context of the above, this study will examine the use of substance abuse among under graduates of Lagos State University Ojo, Lagos state.
1.3                    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions was discussed in order to know the reasons for substance use among undergraduate of Lagos State University,
1.    What are the causes of substance abuse among undergraduates in Lagos State University?
2.    Does parent's substance use have influence on their children?
3.    What is the effect of substance use?
1.4           OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.    To determine the causes of substance abuse among undergraduates in Lagos State University.
2.    To know how parent's and peer influence leads to drug abuse
3.    To know the effect of substance use among undergraduates?

1.5         JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Morbidity, health and social problems from drug abuse need not to be overemphasized. Drug use has medical, psychological and social implications and can be, for many people, the beginning of a course that leads to drug dependence. In Nigeria, studies conducted on drug abuse focused mainly on secondary school students.  This study will be conducted on substance abuse among undergraduates students is highly relevant to reinforce the outcome of research conducted in secondary schools, this will go a long way to assist relevant agencies to use outcome of the intervention to design programme that will reduce substance abuse behaviours.

1.6                  SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The issue of substance abuse among Nigerian youths is high, but this study focused on undergraduate students of Lagos State University, due to the researchers familiarization with the terrain, the study will focus on abuse of substance on the main campus even though there are other annexes of the University. The limitation of the study also includes the following:
1.    Reluctance of the respondents to give personal information about themselves despite assurance of confidentiality.
2.    The technicality of the concept "substance abuse" may give the respondents some difficulties in giving exact information.
3.    In respondents' view, past responses to substance abuse research questionnaires and interviews have not reduced the incidences of drugs substance abuse in the campus.
4.    Some of the respondents might be addicts themselves and might not be interested in disclosing some information that will lead to a successful research.
5.    Constraints on the part of the researchers to be able to collect all the questionnaires administered to the respondents as at when due.