ABSTRACT
This work was done to final out the assessment of the mass media’s role in the campaign against drug abuse, because drug abuse has become a serious problem we are facing both in Nigeria and in other parts of the world. The objectives of this research is to find out if drug abuse has increased crime rate in Nigeria, to find out if the mass media is performing their functions effectively, its assessment in the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria and what impression people have about drug abuse in Nigeria.A critical review of related literature was made. The methodology used, the research design, sample, the method of data collection and analysis is found in chapter three. Chapter four is devoted to the analysis of data collected and results of the research. Tables were used in the results.
Chapter five contains the summary of the study and the recommendations for further study.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO : REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE: MYTHOLOGY
CHAPTER FOUR : DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Bibliography 44
Appendix A: Letter of Introduction 46
Appendix B: Questionnaire. 47
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
There is no limit to the study of media and society. Media and society as a subject covers a wide range of issues. Communication has a lot to do with the individual. It effects and defects are so notable that they cannot be swept under the carpet. Media and society are interwoven and nether of them can exist without the other. But first of all, what is communication?
Fiske (1990) defines communication as “social interaction through message” Jaya- weera (1991) sees it as an interaction process through which persons or groups relate to each other and share information, experience and culture. Looking at the above definitions communication can be said to be the transferring or transmitting of ideas, attitudes and information from one person to anther. Okunna (1999) throws more light on the above assertion when she says “to communicate basically means to share ideas information, opinions , feelings or experiences between people?
According to Okunna (1999) the mass media perform a number of functions, which benefit the individual as a member of a society. She goes on to say that these functions range from serious informational and educational functions to lighter functions like entertainment.
The functions of the mass media in the society includes .
1. Information:-This is the constant stream of information about event in the society. Among the positive consequence of this function is the guidance it gives to the individuals in his or her daily life.
2. Interpretation :-This is the function of appropriately interpreting news and information in such as way as to avoid over sensitization and induce appropriate or necessary action. It includes prescribing what to do, how to do it and why it is necessary.
3. Education:- The mass media help unify society and increases social cohesion by upholding teaching a broad base of common social norms values and collective experiences. The mass media do this transmission mainly through informal education (unconscious learning) and non- formal education (conscious attempt to impart knowledge outside the formal school system).
4. Entertainment:-This is the mass media function that is geared towards providing some diversion and amusement, relaxation and respite.
The mass media is known as the watch dog of the society and with the information and education function, it will be known if the mass media has played roles in the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria. This is because like the dry rot that eats away the wooden beams of a house, drugs can corrode the whole structure of society. For human society to function properly, it must have stable families, healthy workers, trustworthy governments, honest polices and law abiding citizens . Drugs corrupt every one of these fundamental elements.The home however is probably where drugs do the most damage. Parents who are distracted by their craving for drugs rarely provide their children with a stable home life. Many children who grow up in this environment take to the streets or even get involved in drugs themselves.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Drug abuse has become rampant in our society and this has posed a problem because a society filled with filled with drug addicts and drug dependents cannot move forward. A nation filled with people who misuse, abuse or are addicted to drugs will have a high rate of increase in crime, prostitution etc. it also makes way for drug traffic kicking in the society. It constitutes a major public health hazard and is a part of general and social disorganization we see around us that is, breeds comatose patients, and various melody cases that constitute the urban eyeore that dent the image of a nation. It contributes significantly to breakdown of law and order and establishment of various circles of abuses, deficiency, criminality and further abuse. Drug abuse has also led to the diversion of scarce resources to cure addicts, and to rehabilitate them, building of psychiatric hospitals, breakdown of societal norms and values, leading to up heavily, anarchy and other vices in the society, posing more problem than to be solved. Such problems call for in-depth research to help salvage the situation to avoid the set back it created for our society and this has to be done with the help of the mass media in order to inform and educate the people on what that effects of drug abuse can cause to the society, and to the people involved .
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
In the research statement, I highlighted some of the problems which called for the research. The objectives of this study thus includes:
a. To find out if drug abuse has increased crime rate in Nigeria.
b. To investigate how fa
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