The Effects of Adolescent Substance Abuse on the Socio-Economic Development of Yobe State, Nigeria

The use and abuse of drugs by adolescents have become one of the most disturbing socio-economic related phenomena in Yobe State and Nigeria at large. Substance is referred to as an element that modifies perceptions, cognition, mood, behaviour and general body functions. The menace of this phenomenon has eaten deep into the fabrics of Yobe State society. Youths are dying morally, our streets have turned to breeding ground of these cankers and the volume of mentally deranged people increases tremendously. This has also affected the socio-economic well-being of the entire state. The increasing rate of social restiveness characterized by political and social violence is also attributed to this effect. It is estimated that hundreds of lives were lost through this incidence. High budgetary expenditure by governments and quasi -governmental bodies became ineffective over the years. This study found, among others socio-economic stress, poor parental supervision and peer group relation as the major propounding factors of this incidence.