Advertisement

Higher Education Policy

, Volume 29, Issue 2, pp 218–233 | Cite as

The Status of Parental Notification Policy and Practice for Students Involved with Alcohol Abuse at a Private University in Nigeria

  • Augusta Olaore
  • Israel Olaore
Article
  • 45 Downloads

Abstract

Parental notification policies and practices have been found to reduce alcohol and drug use at universities in the United States of America. This study examined the status of parental notification policy and practice at a faith-based private university in Nigeria for students involved with alcohol use. The study revealed that the absence of a documented policy on procedure on parental notification led to inconsistencies in the informal notification practices. Parents, staff and students expressed varied degrees of frustration at the lack of proper parental notification practices. Factors such as mode of notification, timing and purpose of notification, clarification of familial relationships between students and parents–guardian emerged as key indicators. The study recommends that Nigeria as a nation contextualize the American Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 1998 and enact legislation on parental notification that will inform the development of a parental notification policy in Nigerian universities.

Keywords

parental notification students university alcohol abuse Nigeria 

References

  1. Adams, G.R., Berzonsky, M.D. and Keating, L. (2006) ‘Psychosocial resources in first-year university students: the role of identity processes and social relationships’, Journal of Youth and Adolescence 35 (1): 81–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Aina, O. (2003) Cultism and Youth Violence in Nigerian Universities, Obafemi Awolowo Ile-Ife Nigeria: University Press.Google Scholar
  3. Amedeo, G. (1997) ‘The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure’, Journal of Phenomenological Psychology 28 (2): 235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Bickel, R.D. and Lake, P.F. (1999) Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumes the Risks of College Life?, Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.Google Scholar
  5. Chikere, E.I. and Mayowa, M.O. (2011) Prevalence and perceived health effect of alcohol use among male undergraduate students in Owerri, South-East Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study, BMC Public Health online publication February 18 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-118).Google Scholar
  6. Cleveland, H.H., Harris, K.S., Baker, A.K., Herbert, R. and Dean, L.R. (2007) ‘Characteristics of a collegiate recovery community: maintaining recovery in an abstinence-hostile environment’, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 33 (1): 13–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Cosden, M. and Hughes, J. (2012) ‘Parents’ perspectives on parental notification of college students’ alcohol use’, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice 49 (1): 51–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Creswell, J. (2007) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
  9. Cunningham, P. and Henggeler, S. (1999) ‘Engaging multi- problem families in treatment: lessons learnt through the development of multi- systemic therapy’, Family Process 38 (3): 265–281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Henning, G. (2007) ‘Is in consortio cum parentibus the new in Loco parentis?’ NASPA Journal 44 (3): 538–560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Ikuesan, B. (1994) ‘Drinking problems and the position of women in Nigeria’, Addiction 89 (8): 941–944.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (2005) UME/DE Brochure: Guidelines for Admissions to First Degree Courses in Nigerian Universities and Other Degree Awarding Institutions, 2006/2007, Abuja, Nigeria: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (IAMB).Google Scholar
  13. Kobus, K. (2003) ‘Peers and adolescent smoking’, Addiction 98 (Suppl S1): 37–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Lester, S. (1999) An introduction to phenomenological research, Tauton UK: Stan Lester Developments, www.sld.demon.co.uk/resumethv.pdf, accessed 29 September 2014).Google Scholar
  15. Madsen, W. (2009) ‘Collaborative helping: a practice framework for family-centered services’, Family Process 48 (1): 103–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Makanjuola, A.B., Daramola, T.O. and Obembe, A.O. (2007) ‘Psychoactive substance use among medical students in a Nigerian university’, World Psychiatry 6 (2): 112–114.Google Scholar
  17. Mark, T.L., Song, X., Vandivort, R., Duffy, S., Butler, J., Coffey, R. and Schabert, V.F. (2006) ‘Characterizing substance abuse programs that treat adolescents’, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 31 (1): 59–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. McDonnell, J. and Melton, G. (2008) ‘Toward a science of community intervention’, Family Community Health 31 (2): 113–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. McGoldrick, M., Giordana, J. and Garcia-Preto, N. (2005) Ethnicity and family therapy, New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
  20. Obianwu, H. (2005) ‘Emerging serious psychopathology associated with abuse of cannabis (Indian hemp, marijuana)’, Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 4 (1): 329–330.Google Scholar
  21. Obot, I. (2001) ‘The role of the family in promoting drug free communities in Nigeria’, Journal of Family Social Work’ 6 (1): 53–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. O’Connor, L., Morgenstern, J., Gibson, F. and Nakashian, M. (2005) ‘‘Nothing about me without me’: leading the way to collaborative relationships with families’, Child Welfare 84 (20): 163.Google Scholar
  23. Oetting, E. and Donnermeyer, J. (1998) ‘Primary socialization theory: the etiology of drug use and deviance. I’, Substance Use and Misuse 33 (4): 995–1026.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Oetting, E. (1999) ‘Primary socialization theory. Developmental stages, spirituality, government institutions, sensation seeking, and theoretical implications. V’, Substance Use and Misuse 34 (7): 947–982.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Osborne, J. (1994) ‘Some similarities and differences among phenomenological and other methods of psychological qualitative research’, Canadian Psychology 35 (2): 167–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Oshodi, O., Aina, O. and Onajole, A.T. (2010) ‘Substance use among secondary school students in an urban setting in Nigeria: prevalence and associated factors’, African Journal of Psychiatry 13 (1): 52–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Palmer, C.J., Lohman, G., Gehring, D.D., Carlson, C. and Garrett, O. (2001) ‘Parental notification: a new strategy to reduce alcohol abuse on campus’, NASPA Journal 38 (3): 372–385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Rhodes, W.A., Peters, R.J., Perrino, C.A. and Bryant, S. (2008) ‘Substance use problems reported by historically black college students: combined marijuana and alcohol use versus alcohol alone’, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 40 (2): 201–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Rothman, S. and Hillman, K. (2008) Lessons from thirty years of longitudinal studies of Australian youth. Australian Council for Educational Research. 11th SEAMEO INNOTECH International Conference; 25-27 November, Manilla, Philipines.Google Scholar
  30. Small, M., Morgan, N., Abar, C. and Maggs, J.L. (2011) ‘Protective effects of parent — college student communication during the first semester of college’, Journal of American College Health 59 (6): 547–554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Teferra, D. and Altbach, P. (2004) ‘African higher education: challenges for the 21st century’, Higher Education 47 (1): 21–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Turrisi, R. and Ray, A. (2010) ‘Sustained parenting and college drinking in first-year students’, Developmental Psychobiology 52 (3): 286–294.Google Scholar
  33. Turrisi, R., Jaccard, J., Taki, R., Dunnam, H. and Grimes, J. (2001) ‘Examination of the short-term efficacy of a parent intervention to reduce college student drinking tendencies’, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 15 (4): 366–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Vogel, D.L., Michaels, M.L. and Gruss, N.J. (2009) ‘Parental attitudes and college students’ intentions to seek therapy’, Journal of Clinical and Social Psychology 28 (6): 689–713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Whitbeck, L. (1999) ‘Primary socialization theory: it all begins with the family’, Substance Use and Misuse 34 (7): 1025–1032.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. World Health Organization (2014) Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© International Association of Universities 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Augusta Olaore
    • 1
  • Israel Olaore
    • 1
  1. 1.Babcock UniversityIlishan-RemoNigeria

Personalised recommendations