An Evaluation of Drug Crime Nexus amongst Youths in Yobe State, Nigeria

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between drug abuse among youths and their involvement in criminal activities in Yobe State. The specific objectives of study are to identify the common types of drug abused by the youths in Yobe State to examine the nexus between drug abuse and crime in Yobe State and to provide the possible solutions to drug abuse among the youths in Yobe State. The study adopted differential association theory, which proposes that person becomes criminal because of a stronger exposure to law breakers than law abiding others in qualitative rather than quantitative terms. In other words, drug abuse is a function of association with drug addicts. Methodologically, the research is a survey research design, having both descriptive and explanatory research design because it explained the causal link between drug abuse and crime and described the influence of drug abuse on criminal activities among youths in Yobe State. A total of 504 sample size was selected through multi stage sampling method. Primary and secondary data sources were used. Questionnaire and interview were used as instruments of collecting the primary data and mixed method was used in analysing the data. The study finding indicated that drug abuse has strong connection with criminal activities in Yobe State. Most of the terrorist activities carried out by Boko Haram are under the influence of drug. The most common types of drugs used by the youths include Pharmaceutical opioids, tramadol, codeine and morphine. The study concluded that the availability of drugs abuse in the State have increased the rate of crimes in the area. However, the drugs do not cause crime but it facilitates and motivates young people to commit different types of crime. The possible solutions to drug abuse among youths in Yobe State include the involvement of policy makers, religious institution, the community members and the criminal justice system, parents or guardians, and teachers to fight drug abuse among youths. Dr. Bukar Jamri "An Evaluation of Drug-Crime Nexus amongst Youths in Yobe State, Nigeria" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-6 | Issue-5 , August 2022, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd50688.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/sociology/50688/an-evaluation-of-drugcrime-nexus-amongst-youths-in-yobe-state-nigeria/dr-bukar-jamri