Substance Abuse And Organisational Productivity

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

One of the greatest discoveries of man is the therapeutic use of drugs to cure his ailment, to excite him when he is dull, to slim him when he is fat, to expand him when he is thin and to put him to sleep when he is awake. Thus, since time immemorial, man is known to be using drugs and learning to depend on drug usage by various societies in the world to relieve pain, escape reality, to alter perception, provide pleasurable sensation and find the assumed meaning to life.

The term substance abuse (also referred to as substance abuse) is used to describe any licit or illicit substance that has an effect on the structure and functioning of the brain when it is taken wrongly. It includes alcohol, tobacco, medicine, Indian hemp, cocaine and other illegal substances. Therefore, drugs can be legal or illegal; they can be helpful or harmful, depending on the type and the usage or mode of administration. Young people mostly use drugs as a way of rebelling against parents or authority, to feel like adults, to fit in and belong to a group of other youths, to satisfy their curiosity, to simply derive pleasure from the short-term effects of drugs, or to ease the stress and anxiety of personal, work-related or social pressure. Abusers with underlying social or psychological problems are particularly at high risk for substance abuse.

However, where they are not used correctly, they produce unacceptable consequences to the user’s mental health. Social and psychological problem depends on the interaction with and response of the environment, these could play a great role in the way people use drugs. The chronic use of tolerance producing drugs increases the risky behavior of the abuser, the risk of substance abuse as well as the likelihood of impaired psychological damage to the body. Higher doses (substance abuse) usually produce visual or auditory hallucinations or both. Substance abuse affects the individuals’ health and welfare, which interfere with the educational and social well-being or productivity that have an adverse effect in some institutions leading to poor performance in job roles and duties. These are common in our campuses due to the unfortunate involvement of youth in the habit of substance abuse.
Studies by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) 1991 and Sanusi, 1994) have reported increased rate of substance abuse among young adults and youths, especially during pressure. Thus making them vulnerable to substance abuse. This more often results to loss of all powers such as powers of discernment discretion of discriminating judgment and criticism of moral relevance of an existing norm or practice, all these results to moral decadence of the youths that sometimes destroy their mental balance. The youths suffer the negative effect of drugs which has been identified to be responsible for the altered behavioral patterns now observable among many students in higher institutions.

Substance abuse, over the years, is not only an eyesore but also a disturbing trend It is indeed a reality as it embraces all sexes of all classes, all religions and ages but which make the individuals at risks. This explains why individuals who are alcoholics and use other illegal substances end up not doing well in their endeavours, if at all they succeed in their career path.

Sutherland (1979) in Maiwada (2002) said that many of the individuals who abuse drugs and substances have variety of problems and history of emotional deprivation and separation from their family background and social interaction. Some take it because of workplace pressure or influence, to relieve anxiety and stress, to increase energy, to escape reality, and for recreation. For all these reasons, regulatory agencies such as the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are set up by the government to control the production, distribution and consumption of foods and drugs in Nigeria. In addition, they are also to ensure that only those who require drugs (especially prescription drugs) genuinely get them.

The Agencies charged with the responsibilities of drug control in Nigeria have implemented different programmes aimed at stemming the abuse of drugs. Thus, social service centers are places where people with behavior disorder are found as a result of being involved in substance abuse and other behavioral problems. In spite of all these control and regulatory bodies, abusers still indulge in drugs abuse. It is in the light of the above, and considering the role of psychosocial factors in human development that this study is being carried out in order to determine the effects of substance abuse and organizational productivity in Nigeria using a case study of Mangu LGA, Plateau state.

1.2 Statement of Problem

There are high cases of substance abuse among youths and adults in the Nigerian society; this behavior as a result of civil unrest has assumed a dangerous dimension that every stake holder of any organization and the nation at large are at a crux. Substance abuse is a major problem that has characterized the enormous crises facing Nigeria. The critical problem is that in spite of the various measures adapted to prevent Substance abuse on Nigerian youths, we continue to have increasing number of Substance abusers. This problem has characterized the enormous crises facing Nigeria not only in Plateau state in particular but also worldwide. The availability of Drugs in shops, chemists, market stalls and drug barons, provides access to it. The habitual use of drugs during occasions endangers the life and livelihood of the individual involved. It has negative implications on the individual lead to risky behaviour, it affects their performance in work-related tasks, results to personality disorder and impaired cognitive functioning that resulted to regular tiredness and fatigue at work. The study provides information and strategies for preventing such menace because failure can lead to loss of such valuable human resources. Hence, it has become imperative to study the effects of substance abuse and organizational productivity in Nigeria using a case study of Mangu LGA, Plateau state.

1.3 Research Objectives

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of substance abuse and organizational productivity in Nigeria using a case study of Mangu LGA, Plateau state. Specifically, the objectives include:

To determine the effects of substance abuse on psychological behaviour in workplaceof selected organizations in Mangu LGA

To assess the effects of substance abuse on social behavior in the workplaceof selected organizations in Mangu LGA

To determine the relationship between substance abuse and organizational productivity

1.4 Research Questions

This project is designed to tackle the following reach questions;

What is the effect of substance abuse on psychological behaviour in workplace of selected organizations in Mangu LGA?

What is the effect of substance abuse on social behavior in the workplace of selected organizations in Mangu LGA?

What is the relationship between substance abuse and organizational productivity?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following hypotheses were formulated to guide the study the hypothesis is to be tested at 0.5 alpha levels.

HO1: There is no significant relationship between substance abuse and organizational productivity in Mangu LGA

HA1: There is a significant relationship between substance abuse and organizational productivity in Mangu LGA

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study is significant to the overall Nigerian society considering the increasing negative. Consequences of substance abuse and their effects on the productive behavior of substance abusers suggest ways of preventing such occurrences.

Since many of the maladjustments are associated with substance abuse causing harm to the abuser, his work and the organization as a whole, this study would provide a functional literature about its effects. Also, the increasing nature of this malady in Nigeria and other developing countries would help in seeking for solutions from this study.

It is therefore hoped that the findings of this research will be useful to the public (in saying ‘NO’ to substance abuse). It will equally be useful to the organizations charged with the responsibility of fighting the sale and consumption of illicit drugs in their crusade.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Substance Abuse:

Refers to the excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as alcohol, pain medications or illegal drugs. It can lead to physical, social or emotional harm.

Organizational Productivity:

Is the capacity of an organization, institution, or business to produce desired results with a minimum expenditure of energy, time, money, personnel, materiel, etc.

1.8 Organization of the Study

This study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction which contains the background, research problems and objectives. The second chapter is the literature review and the third chapter is the research methodology. In the fourth chapter, the researcher analyses the data and discusses the results. The fifth chapter is the last chapter which presents the summary, conclusion and recommendations.