The Role of Mass Media against Illicit Drug Trafficking

ABSTRACT

Trafficking and use of illicit drugs (banned substances) have become prevalent, menacing and deadly plague unleashing social and health hazards on the human race, yet with increased economic patronage. The problem is more prevalent in the developing nations, while Nigeria is one of the most affected African countries. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has acknowledged this fact.

Despite efforts by the Nigerian government through her Anti-drug abuse agencies, the rate of drug-related crimes in the country seems to persist and in an ever increasing trajectory. This paper, in revealing some embarrassing statistics on the prevalence of drug problems in Nigeria, therefore, challenge the Nation’s Mass Media as well as Social Media to adopt a more aggressive approach and campaigns in fighting trafficking and use of illicit drugs in the country.

    The Agenda-Setting theory is the theoretical framework adopted in this work, the paper discusses different social change strategies that the Nigerian Mass Media could adopt to fight drug-related vices. However, the researchers recommend that these media campaigns should be effectively sustained and complemented with other communication approaches.