A Study of the Non-Medical Use of Pharmaceutical Drugs among Tertiary Institution Students in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria has generated an outcry by the populace and has become a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs among tertiary institutions students in Imo and Enugu states, Nigeria; describe the pattern of non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs among the tertiary schools student population in the study areas, as well as examine the social-demographic factors that associate with drug use among the tertiary schools student population in the study areas. Cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling method were utilized among 309 study participants who gave informed consent/assent. Data were collected using facilitated, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at p<0.05. The mean age of our respondents was 25.29±6.07SD. The most used drug was codeine with 26.9% of the sample reporting lifetime use, while 18.8% and 13.6% reported codeine use in the past year and past month respectively. It was also shown that of the respondents who started using drugs, 6.1% are because they like the feeling. The study shows statistical differences according to sex, regardless of the age and living situation of the students.