Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The menace of drug abuse among young people in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions. Every day, reports filter in from different parts of the country about teenagers and young adults who have fallen victim to the destructive habit of substance abuse. What began as a seemingly harmless experiment with marijuana and alcohol has, for many, snowballed into a full-blown addiction to harder substances such as heroin, cocaine, and a cocktail of prescription drugs taken outside medical supervision. The consequences are devastating: broken homes, academic failure, rising crime rates, and a generation of young people who are unable to contribute meaningfully to national development. Social scientists and health workers have identified several factors that drive young people into drug abuse. Peer pressure remains the single most potent force. When a young person's circle of friends engages in drug use, the psychological pressure to conform can be overwhelming. Added to this is the pervasive influence of social media, which sometimes glamourises a lifestyle of reckless indulgence. Poverty and unemployment also play significant roles. A young man who sees no future, who has knocked on every door of opportunity only to be turned away, is dangerously vulnerable to the escapism that drugs appear to offer. The family unit, which ought to be the first line of defence, has in many cases collapsed under the weight of economic hardship and social dislocation. Parents who are too busy chasing a livelihood have little time to monitor their children's associations and activities. In homes where there is no emotional warmth, children seek belonging elsewhere — often in gangs and peer groups where drug use is a rite of passage. Addressing this crisis demands a multi-pronged approach. Government must invest heavily in rehabilitation centres and make treatment accessible to all, regardless of economic status. Schools must integrate drug education into their curricula from the earliest levels. Religious and community organisations must be mobilised to provide mentorship and alternative social networks for vulnerable youth. Above all, the family must be strengthened, because no policy, however well-intentioned, can substitute for the love, guidance, and discipline that a functional home provides. (a) In two sentences, state what the writer considers to be the most powerful factor driving young people into drug abuse and explain why it is so dangerous. [4 marks] (b) According to the passage, what role has the family unit failed to play, and what are the consequences of this failure? [4 marks] (c) In your own words as much as possible, explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage: (i) snowballed [2 marks] (ii) multi-pronged approach [2 marks] (iii) escapism [2 marks] (iv) rite of passage [2 marks] (v) pervasive [2 marks] [Total: 18 marks — adjust to 15 for scoring purposes below]