Opinion Of Residents Of Owerri Metropolis On Flogging As A Methamphetamine (Mkuru Mmiri) Abuse Preventive Strategy Among The Youths Of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri in local parlance) abuse is witnessing a steady rise in Imo State, southeast of Nigeria. The reckless and frequent use of methamphetamine at every nook and corner of Imo State by the youths and its devastating instant impact on them resulting to appearance of fresh mentally deranged young people on the streets of the state has angered the stakeholders to the point of apprehending those taking methamphetamine, tying them on sticks, and flogging them mercilessly and publicly to bring back their senses and to serve as deterrent to others. Varying opinions have been expressed on flogging as methamphetamine abuse preventive strategy. This study therefore investigated the opinion of residents of Owerri Metropolis about flogging as a methamphetamine abuse preventive strategy among the youths of Imo State. A sample of 364 residents of Owerri Metropolis participated in the study. The instrument for data collection validated through the assistance of experts in the fields of sociology, measurement and evaluation is Opinions of residents of Owerri Metropolis on Flogging as a Methamphetamine Abuse Preventive and Deterrent Strategy Questionnaire. Its reliability coefficient established through test-retest method and Pearson statistical technique is 0.83. Three research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation and one null hypothesis was tested using independent sample t-test at 0.05 alpha level. The results of the study showed that flogging the youths who take or abuse methamphetamine is not the opinion of people resident in Owerri Metropolis as a methamphetamine abuse preventive strategy in Imo State. The negative opinion of Owerri residents on the use of flogging as methamphetamine abuse preventive strategy among the youths of Imo State is the same for both male and female respondents. It was therefore recommended that awareness should be created about the dangers of methamphetamine abuse which will help to prevent the youths from taking the hard drug. Counselling and rehabilitation programmes for methamphetamine addicts should be organized to free them from methamphetamine addiction so that they can live a normal life. Besides, the use of good legislation and implementation against sales of methamphetamine will deter people from selling it and make the drug less available to the youths.