Acceptability of Peer Networking Strategy in Combating Substance Abuse Among Undergraduates in Universities in Anambra State

Abstract

Substance abuse among the youths has been on the increase despite efforts of government and other concerned institutions to combat it. The university system in Nigeria is not exempt from this cankerworm. These citadels of learning, as it is, grapple with the challenge of indiscriminate substance use among undergraduates. It is against the backdrop of the prevalence of substance abuse among undergraduates and the consequent failures of so many strategies to combat abuse that this study investigated the acceptability of peer networking as an alternative public relations strategy for combating substance abuse among undergraduates of universities in Anambra State. The study was conducted in the light of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) propounded by Sekhon et al (2017). Using a descriptive survey design, the study surveyed a sample of 200 undergraduates from universities in Anambra State to ascertain their perspective on the acceptability of the proposed peer networking strategy in combating substance abuse. A questionnaire titled ‘Peer Networking for Combating Substance Abuse Questionnaire (PNCSAQ) was developed and used to obtain data from the undergraduates. The PNCSAQ was validated and the reliability coefficient index of 0.86 was obtained. Data collected for the study were analysed with descriptive statistics. Findings indicated that undergraduates despite their diverse demographic characteristics accepted peer networking as a good strategy for combating substance abuse in the universities. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things, that PR managers should employ the peer networking strategy in combating substance abuse among undergraduates in the universities.