Abstract

This study critically examines the relationships between substance abuse and criminal behaviours among the commercial motor drivers in Lagos State and relates it to national development. Relevant literatures were reviewed to lay solid explanatory foundation for the study. The study made use of social learning and personality theories in its theoretical framework. The study adopted survey research method. Surulere local government area was scientifically selected as the study location. Sample size of one hundred and sixty-five (165) was purposively selected to sample the opinions of the respondents. The research work adopted mixed method to collect data. Self-administered questionnaire and in-depth interview (IDI) were the instruments used. The data gathered from the field were analysed using frequency distribution (uni-variate analysis) to assess and describe the study participants, while chi-square (χ²) (bi-variate analysis) to test the relationship between the variables. Content analysis was also used to analyse the qualitative data generated from the field. The findings of the two hypotheses tested revealed that there is no significant relationships between abuse of alcohol by the commercial vehicle drivers and their involvement in road accidents which may result to loss of lives of many that should contribute meaningfully to the national development, but there is significant relationship between abuse of marijuana by the commercial vehicle drivers and their involvement in traffic offence. The study then recommends among others that Lagos State government must place strict ban on the sales of psychoactive substances in public places especially in the public motor parks.

Keywords

alcohol, commercial vehicle drivers, criminal behaviours, marijuana, substance abuse, paraga (alcohol herbal mixture)