UNDERSTANDING PULL FACTORS OF DRUG USE AMONG UPPER BASIC SCHOOL STUDENTS: A PATHWAY FOR HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Th e study investigated the understanding of the pull factors of drug use among upper basic school students: a pathway to human capital development. Th e study adopted a qualitative form survey design. Th e population for the study were public upper basic schools in three Area of Ilorin metropolis. Th e target population were the upper basic seven, eighth and nine (J.S.S I, II, and III) students that use drugs. A sample size of 9 secondary schools was purposively sampled. Twenty-one basic school students' drug users were sampled through snowballing simple technique. Th e study applied a qualitative method using an open-ended interview approach developed by the researcher. Th e thematic data analysis technique was used to analyze the interview data retrieved from the participants. qualitative computer data analysis soft ware (NVIVO 10) was used to analyze the data. Results revealed Alcohol, cigarettes, caff eine, inhalants, methadone, tramadol, codeine, morphine, cannabis or marijuana, opiates, heroin ‘EJA’, JEDI’, and cocaine among others. Parental easy access, peer infl uence, and experimental curiosity were some of the pull factors, while increased enlightenment, parental role, and limited access to the drug are some of the measures drug users need to quit drugs.