Youth and Drug Abuse in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State : Implications for Educational and National Development

This research was an assessment into youths and drug abuse and its implication on National Development in Onoacha Local Government, Anambra State. A descriptive Survey Design was adopted for this study. The population comprised of the youths in Anoacha Local Government Area, Anambra State. 150 youths sample were used as the direct respondents out of the population of 1, 000 youths. The instrument used for data collection was a research questionnaire on the Influence of Drug Abuse on Youths and its implication on National Development (QIDYIND). Three research questions and three research objectives guided the study. The data obtained was analyzed using mean and ranking method of data analysis. The findings shows drug abuse manifests its influence in form of violence, criminality, and destruction of lives and property, that there is a strong implication of drug abuse through destruction of national symbols, reduction of patriotism and being a threat to education of the youths, and that drug abuse can be curbed through the creation of employment opportunities for the youths, reinforcement of laws to deter drug abuse and social enlightenment. Finally, the study recommended that the ministry of education should incorporate drug abuse and use literacy in the syllable of learning, that drug enforcement agencies should ensure that there is an inaction of law binding drug and substance abuse, and that there should be caution to drug manufacturers as to help limit the production of harmful drugs.