DECLINE IN TRADITIONAL VALUES/FOLKLORES AND THE RISING INCIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG THE YOUTHS IN THE RURAL AREAS OF RIVERS STATE

The Paper focuses on the high rate of decline in traditional values/folklores and the rising incidence of drug abuse among the youths in the rural areas of Rivers State. In Nigeria, and Rivers State in particular, the responsibility of nurturing, training and moulding the behavior and character of the young ones is vested in the family. The family employed several strategies including folklores as well as strengthening and maintaining the value system in course of training the young ones. The value system and folklores helped to shape and also to mould the characters of the young ones to suit societal expectation. Unfortunately, in recent times, the value system and folklores have been bastardized as a result of drug abuse by the youths. Globalization introduces foreign ways of life, that trickle down into the rural areas and influence the behavior of the youths. The paper also revealed that the cultists that are all over the rural communities are drug abusers. After taking these drugs, they exhibited anti-social behavior such as killing, raping, stealing, destruction of houses etc. The constituted authorities in these rural communities are not respected, even their parents are not respected neither are they ready to obey the laws of the land. It was therefore recommended that the Rivers State Government in collaboration with non-governmental organizations should engage in enlightenment campaigns against the increase in drug abuse and its consequences on the youths of Rivers State.