Zeitschrift für Alkoholismus und Drogenabhängigkeit
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Abstrakt

Religiosity and Spirituality as Agents of Change in Hard Drugs Usage in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

Emeka C. Ekeke

Drug usage is a global phenomenon that has been seen throughout human history, whether it is done for therapeutic, spiritual, or recreational reasons. Hard drug use and misuse have become a severe concern, especially for those living in Nigeria's Niger Delta, where Christianity is the predominant faith. One can wonder if such a phenomenon should be attributed to the churches' lack of dedication to their religion or if their members have not taken spirituality seriously. In order to explore how religion and spirituality might affect drug use, the current study looks at the usage and abuse of hard and illegal substances in the Niger Delta. The study uses a survey research design and the quantitative research methodology. Responses to closed ended, structured, electronic and paper based questionnaires dispersed throughout the study region make up the primary data. The information was gathered both manually and electronically (through email). The study shows that the use of hard drugs is very common in the area and that religious organizations are not doing enough to rehabilitate and treat local drug users on a religious and spiritual level. As the keeper of public morals, the report advises the church to focus its efforts on preaching against the use and misuse of illegal and hard substances.