THE EFFECT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG ATHLETS IN DELTA STATE COUNCIL A CASE STUDY OF ASABA SPORT CENTRE

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

Abstract

The use of drugs to enhance sports performance by athletes is currently a worldwide social problem. Although, sports administrators are doing a lot to discourage the practice, yet the incidence appears to be on the increase. It is against this background that the study investigated the effect of drug abuse among athletes in Delta state council. Also, it examined the influence of chronological age of a selected sample of elite athletes and type of sports they engage in on the use of performance enhancing drugs. A total of 200 athletes were randomly sampled from Asaba sport center in Delta state Nigeria.

        CHAPTER ONE

                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

In the last two decades, there have been a number of studies on drug use during adolescence among athletes. Previous researchers provide a vital base for establishing prevalence of the rate and trends in adolescent drug use. However, as a result of the characteristics and physiological effects of some of these drugs, they have found wide patronage amongst athletes. The drugs under this category are referred to as performance enhancing drugs. These include any compounds taken to increase strength, power, speed or endurance or to change body weight or composition for the sake of boosting athletics performance. For many years, the various performance enhancing substances and procedures offer an opportunity to gain that elusive competitive advantage. Cyclists, track and field athletes, swimmers and weight lifters are among those athletic groups most often implicated in using banned substances or procedures to enhance performance. Such banned substances include, psychoactive stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines and heroine), steroids, stanozolol, nandrolone, dianabol and other substances with similar chemical effects. Other prohibited substances under restriction are alcohol, marihuana, local analgesics and beta-blocker. For instance, stimulants are used to increase alertness and prevent tiredness and fatigue. They are often used by athletes who need endurance and strength. The drugs were originally used during competitions in an attempt to enhance performance in strenuous events or reduce the sensitivity to pain. However, many athletes now use stimulants during training. Experience has shown that most young Nigerians, especially sportsmen and women who abuse psychoactive drugs begin in the early life, even though the habit can be initiated at any time. The attitudes of Nigerian sportsmen and women towards the use of drugs are influenced largely by the adults in the society, since they are significant role models in the life of youths. Furthermore, in Nigeria, the free purchase of drugs by the citizens without regard for age, sex and religious restrictions had encouraged the taking of various psychoactive drugs for social, rather than for prescribed medical reasons. This fact seems to account for the alarming rate of use among youths who are potential sportsmen and women. In the last couple of years, many athletes in different sports have been caught using performance-enhancing drugs. When an athlete tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs, the athlete is usually well known. Also, there have been many instances never reported. It has come to a point where when an athlete is doing really well in his sport, speculations on the use of steroids or other performing-enhancing drugs arise. But the bothersome thing about sports today is that the speculations may very well be true. The use of steroids, and other performance-enhancing drugs, is dangerous. Although it has enhanced the entertainment value of sports, it also has diminished the value of sportsmanship. The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports is widespread, becoming a matter of public knowledge and debate. It has gotten to the point where athletes from other countries are coming to the United States to buy performance-enhancing drugs that are illegal in their home countries. In his article “Performance-Enhancing Substances Raise Serious Ethical Questions for Athletes,” Kirk Johnson states that as a result of publicity, sales of performance-enhancing products have increased and companies are swiftly creating new products. According to Johnson, “Met-Rx said that it was developing a gum that boosted testosterone … while you chew. Another company has developed a steroid that dissolves under the tongue. Advertising copy on the Internet bursts with claims about everything from better state of mind to heightened sexual performance” (para. 18). Athletes are also using dietary supplements that are advertised as having the same effects as prescription-only performance-enhancing drugs. Studies indicate that some supplements change into illegal steroids once they’re taken into the body. In “Performance-Enhancing Dietary Supplements Are Dangerous,” Gwen Knapp says, “supplement use has been linked to the deaths of several athletes, who exceeded the recommended dosages or mixed their intake of supplements with other medications” (para). She states that supplements are easy to buy, and athletes are drawn to them as if they were Michael Jordan’s latest shoe. At first, a chain of vitamin stores didn’t want to stock and rostenedione, but when Mark McGwire admitted to using it during his record-breaking season, it became the must have ingredient. Knapp believes that the problem with supplements is that they are almost unregulated.

 1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Drug abuse in Nigeria in the contemporary time has become one issue that cast a gloomy shadow to the entire Nigerian society especially among Nigerian athlete. The height of drug trafficking in Nigeria was witnessed in 1985 under the military regime. During this period, it was mostly the Athletes that were caught and the first to be executed for drug offences under the “special tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences) Degree No. 20 of 1984. However, the abuse of drugs is not only limited to the Athletes as alien phenomenon is to distort its significance. Nevertheless, the usage of drug either by Athletes or other members of the larger society in all its ramifications appears to be a social problem. This problem is widely spread and it affect all and sundry. In other words, this wide spread use and abuse entice people from all walks of life and beyond the human destruction caused by drug dependence is the damage to traditional values and lifestyles. Studies have also shown that drug abuse wrecks individual, shatter families and weakens entire society with its burden of economic looses, health cost and increased lawlessness and crime. Also, drugs seem to undermine the ability of Athletes to learn. Drug also appears to contradict our values of physical wellbeing. People experiment with drugs because they seem to hold the promise of fulfillment. But the fulfillment is generally elusive, greater and greater quantities are consumed and ultimately the person suffers both physical and psychological deterioration. The drug abuser also experience problems of interaction and this interactional problem is encountered both inside his immediate family and stress invariably is created in the family situation of drug abuse (Hoffman, 1990) To add to this, drug abuse may entail a lot of social problems ranging from lateness to lectures, family neglect, deviance behaviours, involvement in crime etc (Earl 2000). In terms of economic cost, it includes the more money required to deal with the undesirable effects of the drug abuse, the less money for services and programmes that enhances the quality of life (Earl 2000). One of the factors militating against the eradication of drug abuse among our Athletes is that our security agencies, such as the police force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies among others have not done enough to check this scourge. Another factor militating against the eradication of drug abuse among Nigerian Athletes is the problem of corruption among the men and officials of these fore mentioned agencies. To this end and judging from the problems outlined earlier, this research aims at ascertaining the effect of drug abuse among athlete  in Delta state council with emphasis on Asaba sport center as a study area.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To determine the effect of drugs abused by athletes in Delta state
2. To find out the drugs that is commonly abused by athlete in Delta state.
3. To find out the implications for athletes involvement on drug abuse.
4. To ascertain if there is any significant relationship performance enhancing substance and athletes performance as a result of drug abuse

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀:  there is no effect of drugs abused by athletes in Nigeria

H₁:  there is effect of drugs abused by athletes in Nigeria

H₀²: there are no significant relationship performance enhancing substance and athletes performance as a result of drug abuse

H₂: there are drugs that are commonly abused by athlete in Nigeria. there is a significant relationship performance enhancing substance and athletes performance as a result of drug abuse

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STDUY

There is a great need for this study as it entails what the result for the findings would be used for. The results of the study should help in creating awareness in the society on the general effects of drug abuse on their health most especially the athletes. It will make the youths to realize that excessive or even small intake of this item (drugs) has inhibitory effects on their brain. The result of this of this study will be used in making the consumers to have a second thought before partaking in the act. This will go a long way in modeling their behavior which the general awareness has created. The study will go a long way in reducing the numerous health problems encountered as a result of the misuse of drugs or the intake of hard drugs. The study will also help young researchers or writers to solve some problems of drug abuse, thereby ensuring good health of the athletes or youths in general and social harmony in the society. Finally, all the social ills in the society as a result of the effects of drug abuse among the athletes in Nigeria will be drastically minimized.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the effect of drug abuse among athletes in Delta state in Nigeria. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Finance: Limited Access to the needed finance was a major constrain to the scope of the study.

 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Drug: A drug is a chemical substance capable of altering the physical and psychological function of the body.

Abuse: This means the misuse of something. It can also be described as the illegal use of something.

Drug Abuse: This is the misuse of drugs. It could be defined as the illegal use of substance which interferes with the human behavior.

Effects: This could be defined as consequences. It is also the power to produce result.

Athletes

An athlete is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed or endurance. The application of the term to those who participate in other activities, such as horse riding or driving, is somewhat controversial. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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