PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

The study was a public perception investigation into drug abuse and crime in Akwa IbomState, South-South Zone of Nigeria. It adopted descriptive and inferential research designs toanalyse the data obtained from a sample size of 1003, drawn from a population of 7,200,000using Cochran's sampling technique, in an ordered manner to establish relationships betweenvariables. The data collected were retrieved from questionnaires administered to the generalpublic as well as through interviews with staff at the Correctional Centre in Uyo and Eket,while staff from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were interviewed inUyo. The study posed six research questions and tested four hypotheses. It employed threetheories as the theoretical framework for the research: Social Learning Theory, StrainTheory, and Rational Choice Theory. The four hypotheses were analysed using Pearson'sproduct-moment correlation, while the interview results were subjected to thematic andcontent analysis, emphasising excerpts or verbatim quotes from the interviewees. Thefindings revealed, among other things, that there is a prevalence of drug abuse and relatedcrimes in Akwa Ibom State and that the influence of drug abuse on crime in the state variesbetween men and women. The recommendations include educating Akwa Ibom State citizensabout the dangers of drug abuse and its negative effects on individuals, society, and the state.Keywords: Drug abuse, crime, Ogogoro, and illegal drug use