NJALA UNIVERSITY

PROPOSAL WRITING

TOPIC: ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE

ABUSE AMONG THE YOUTHS OF BO.

BY

ALPHAJOR JALLOH

23895

TUTOR: MR. EMMANUEL NYUMA

 ABSTRACT
Substance abuse is rampant in Sierra Leone including Bo. It has grown to be one of society's top
health issues. Here, this report will present review of various participants about prevalence and
effects of drug abuse in Bo town. Different electronic databases PubMed, Science Direct and
Google Scholar will be used to access literature reviews of credible writers.

Youth are more exposed to the threat that deprives them of their productive years. The factors
responsible for this would be revealed from this report. The social structure of our community is
at danger due to drug misuse. It causes enormous suffering to not only the individual caught in
this abuse but also the whole family. To overcome this menace many approaches are required
with interventions at family and, community level, various government agencies, NGO’s and
most important by medical specialists.

Substance abuse is a public health problem globally. The prevalence of substance abuse among
young people is worrying. The problem hurts people, but it also has a negative effect on society
and families. A review will be carried out using questionnaire and snow balling method to obtain
data for this report. Research articles and reports will be on magnitude of substance abuse among
youths of Bo town, determinants of drug abuse, and harmful effects of drug abuse. Both
industrialized and emerging nations share this issue. However, because of their precarious
socioeconomic conditions, developing nations like Sierra Leone are more vulnerable.
 CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Adolescent substance use is a serious public health concern around the world and is quite
prevalent during this time, which can have negative effects on physical and mental health. This
study examined the incidence of substance abuse and its antecedents among young people in Bo
town.
Drug and substance abuse, according to the World Health Organization, refers to the hazardous
use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and illegal narcotics. The widespread use of
drugs and other substances nowadays has harmed society, made people feel less self-aware,
caused mental illnesses, deaths, addiction, and other difficulties. There has been a perceived rise
in drug abuse prevalence worldwide. Drug users make up about 19.9% of the global population
as of 2019. 31 million people are known to take drugs, and 3.3 million people die each year as a
result of alcohol misuse. Every year, more than 2.6 million people between the ages of 10 and 24
pass away as a result of drug and alcohol abuse (World Health Organization, 2019). Sierra Leone
currently faces similar challenges as its citizens indulge in drugs and substances despite the
National Drug Policy adopted to guard against inadequacies in drug availability, supply and
distribution. The significant rise in drug and alcohol consumption led to the war against drugs,
which saw the establishment of two government agencies in Sierra Leone.

Youth are increasingly using substance misuse as a coping method for problems like
unemployment, sexual assault, crime, and neglect. Youths are becoming more tolerant of
harmful behaviors. Two of the most common activities among teenagers are using tobacco
products and drinking alcohol. Alcohol misuse is thought to cause 2.5 million deaths annually,
while heroin, cocaine, and other narcotics are to blame for 0.1-0.2 million deaths. According to
National Crime data, Bo had the highest number of drug misuse cases in Sierra Leone. The
consumption trend has been steadily rising from 2015 to 2021. Teenagers who use alcohol and
other drugs run a high chance of developing major health conditions like cancer and
cardiovascular and respiratory ailments.
A university often includes two divisions: one for undergraduate studies, which awards
bachelor's degrees, and another for graduate study, which awards advanced degrees (master’s
and doctorate degrees). Undergraduates are more easily initiated than post-graduate students into
harmful habits such as the abuse of drugs and substances. Reasons for initiation include low self-
esteem, peer pressure, the need for extra energy for daily activities, poor socioeconomic
conditions at home and experimental curiosity. Thus, our research aim was to assess the
prevalence and awareness of drug and substance abuse among the youths of Bo.

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA

Bo, also known as Bo Town, is the second largest city in Sierra Leone (after Freetown) and the
largest city in the Southern province. Bo serves as the district's seat of government and capital.
The population of Bo is thought to be 306,000. Bo is an urban center, and lies approximately 160
miles (250 km) east south-east of Freetown. Bo is Sierra Leone's second-largest urban, financial,
and educational hub after Freetown.
One of Sierra Leone's six municipalities, the city of Bo is run locally by a directly elected city
council known as the Bo City Council, which is presided over by a mayor. The Mayor and
members of the Bo City Council are directly elected every four years in a municipal election.
Several ethnic groups from Sierra Leone have large populations in the city, but no one ethnic
group constitutes a majority. The Mende people, who make up the majority of the city's
inhabitants, consider Bo their primary residence. In Bo, the Krio language is the one that is
spoken by the greatest number of people, and it serves as the main medium of exchange. The
city's population is multireligious, with Muslims and Christians making up the majority.

Map of Sierra Leone showing Bo

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
People who are addicted to Substance addiction are frequently accompanied by one or more
health problems, such as lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health concerns. Blood
tests, chest X-rays, and imaging scans can all reveal the detrimental effects of chronic substance
misuse throughout the body. Abuse of substances can also make someone more susceptible to
catching infections like HIV and hepatitis.
Drug misuse and various forms of mental disease frequently coexist. Sometimes, mental diseases
like schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety come before addiction. Other times, drug use can
contribute to or exacerbate such mental health problems, particularly in people who are already
vulnerable.
By raising the prevalence of mental disease among today's adolescents, substance addiction puts
the community at risk.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 Data collected from this research will provide knowledge necessary to avoid risky situations
and information to make healthier personal choices.
 It aids in creating personal strategies for avoiding both negative peers and the inherent social
pressures associated with substance use in social scenarios.

1.5 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.5.1 General Objective
The following are the study's broad goals:
 To identify and assess the factors contributing to the prevalence of substance abuse
among the youths of Bo town.
 To determine the effects of substance abuse among young adults.
 To determine the biological, environmental and social causes of substance abuse.

1.5.2 Specific Objective

This is in order to suggest new ways by which substance abuse can be mitigated among the
youths of Bo.
1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This research work will be limited to those factors responsible for the prevalence of substance
abuse among the youths of Bo town only. The researcher will go through some expenses to cover
for transportation, and also difficulties in finding respondents.

1.7 JUSTIFICATION
 Data collected from this research will benefit the district health management team in
making a statistics of substance abuse in BO.
 This study will also have an impact in bringing awareness to young people about
substance abuse and their long time effects in an individual.
 The government can also use it to determine the levels of substance abuse and use it to
evaluate the whole country.
 Policy makers can also use it to determine possible measures to combat the situation.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.8.1 Prevalence: Prevalence is the total number of people with a disease or health condition in a
population at a particular moment.
1.8.2 Assessing: To determine the quantity, worth, or significance of something.
1.8.3 Adolescence: The period of age from 14 – 19 years.
1.8.4 Substance: They are psychoactive consumed by young people. EG; Alcohol, cigarette and
cocaine, marijuana etc. that produces changes in mood, thinking, feeling, or behavior that can
cause dependence.
1.8.5 Substance Abuse: This is the act of consuming psychoactive substances in order to gain
intoxication which can alter normal functioning of the body.
1.8.6 Risk factors: Characteristics or conditions within the individual or in the family, school or
community that increase the likelihood that someone will engage in the use of alcohol, cigarette,
and marijuana.
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 METHODOLOGY

2.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter explains the procedures that will be used to collect data for this study. Consideration
will be given to the principles of research to ensure the collection of relevant information to
support this report. . It captures the following:

 The Study Area

 Research Design
 Sample Size and Selection Techniques
 Data Collection Procedures
 Data Analysis Techniques
 Eligibility Criteria

2.2 THE STUDY AREA

Bo Town is the second-largest city in terms of size and location in Sierra Leone, after Freetown.
Additionally, it serves as the Southern Province's capital. Bo is the district's administrative and
political hub. The city of Bo had 149,957 residents in the 2004 census and an estimated 233,684
residents in 2017.   Bo, an urban center, is located about 40 miles (71 km) from Kenema and
roughly 160 miles (250 km) east-southeast of Freetown. The principal financial, educational and
commercial center of southern Sierra Leone is Bo.

One of Sierra Leone's most ethnically diverse cities is Bo. Numerous ethnic groups from Sierra
Leone have large populations in the city, but no one ethnic group constitutes a majority. The
Mende people, who make up the majority of the city's inhabitants, call Bo their primary
residence. The Krio language of the Sierra Leone Creole people is by far the most commonly
spoken language in Bo and is the main form of communication in the city, as it is throughout the
majority of Sierra Leone.

The city's population is multireligious, with Muslims and Christians making up the majority. One
of Sierra Leone's six municipalities, the city of Bo is run locally by a directly elected city council
known as the Bo City Council, which is headed over by a mayor. Every four years, a municipal
election is held to directly elect the mayor and members of the Bo City Council.

Map of Sierra Leone showing Bo

2.3 RESEARCH DESIGN

This gives an insight of the way the research is going to be carried out. To achieve the aim and
specific objective of this research, both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection
will be used to make the study relevant. However, questionnaires will also be distributed to
respondents during data collection.

2.4 SAMPLE SIZE AND SELECTION TECHNIQUE

For the achievement of the objectives of this research work, fifty (50) respondents will be
selected from different departments to ensure full participation in the research data collection
process. In order to access all the respondents, snow balling method will be used as a research
tool. This is where the researcher starts by investigating few people, and further asked them for
to recommend others who met the criteria of the interview. This method will be used in order to
get an access to hidden information.
2.5 DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES

Here, the methods that will be applied are discussed. Numerous techniques for gathering data
would be used in the study. In order to increase the study's reliability, the data used for it will be
collected using a variety of methods. Data would be gathered from two primary sources in
particular, including:

 Questionnaire
 Focused group interviews

2.5.1 Questionnaire

A questionnaire's objective is to gather information from respondents regarding their attitudes,

experiences, and opinions. Questionnaires can be used to collect quantitative and/or qualitative
data. The questionnaire will contain two sections; the first section collects the demographic data
of the respondent. While the second part will ask questions pertaining achieving the research
goals.

2.5.2 Focused group interviews

With a group of participants, you conduct interviews to gather a variety of data. These interviews
might range in size from four participants to as many as ten. In order for the participants to stay
focused and not stray, the researcher will moderate the forum and guide the discussion toward
the objectives.

2.6 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE

The process of reviewing data and drawing relevant conclusions while utilizing a variety of
analytical techniques is known as data interpretation. In order to identify solutions to significant
problems, researchers can categorize, alter, and summarize data with the use of interpretation.
The data collected during the research will aim at getting the main theme of the study. The data
will be transformed by coding and the transformation of the data would be done by using a
statistical package necessary to analyze qualitative data. The transformed data will then be put
into frequency tables, histograms and chats.
2.7 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

2.7.1 Inclusion Criteria

Data will be collected from all youth of Bo town who abuse substances.

2.7.2 Exclusion Criteria

Only those youths who are within the ages of 20 to 30 years will be considered during the study.

2.8 ORGANNISATION OF THE STUDY

This study will be organized in five chapters.
 Chapter One
This chapter will deal with the introductory aspect.
 Chapter Two
This is where review of literatures concerning the various issues about the topic will be
done.
 Chapter Three
This chapter deals with the methodology of the research.
 Chapter Four
This chapter will deal with findings, data interpretation and analysis.
 Chapter Five
This chapter will contain the summary, recommendations conclusion and references.

2.9 REFERENCES
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608018/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo,_Sierra_Leone

https://theuninfo.wordpress.com/sierra-leone/bo-city/

https://forms.app/en/blog/how-to-use-questionnaire-templates-on-formsapp-for-free