Drug Use and Sources of Drug Information Among Secondary School Students in Imo State, Nigeria

Cajetan I Ilo,Ignatius O Nwimo

doi:10.19044/ejes.v4no1a76

Abstract

This study was an investigation into drug use and sources of drug information among secondary school students in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 1400 students, aged 16-17 years was studied. Percentages were used to describe the students’ drug use and sources of drug information. Chi-square was used to verify the four hypotheses postulated for the study. Results showed that the main drugs the students who took part in the study used included analgesics, stimulants, anti-malaria, alcohol, worm expellants, nasal decongestants, sleeping pills, laxatives, and anti-biotics and their main sources of drug information included print media, television, radio, and friends and peers. Chi-square tests indicated that the differences in the use of drugs between boys and girls were significant in most cases. It is recommended that drug education be made an integral part of secondary school curriculum.

Highlights

The history of drug use is centuries old, during mid 1960’s a widespread introduction of marijuana, and subsequently other illicit drugs, occurred among the young
This study was an investigation into drug use and sources of drug information among secondary school students in Imo State, Nigeria
Results showed that the main drugs the students who took part in the study used included analgesics, stimulants, anti-malaria, alcohol, worm expellants, nasal decongestants, sleeping pills, laxatives, and anti-biotics and their main sources of drug information included print media, television, radio, and friends and peers

Summary

Introduction

The history of drug use is centuries old, during mid 1960’s a widespread introduction of marijuana, and subsequently other illicit drugs, occurred among the young. Drug use is a consequence of interaction between complex circumstances as individual predisposition, personality traits, family and peer influence and the role of an individual in a society (Davies, 1994). The patients interviewed in a study (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2008) illustrate the important ‘gateway' theory of drug progression. Psychological dynamics influencing drug use identified included peer pressure, lack of selfconfidence, reduction of stress and frustration, curiosity and search for excitement, experimentation and conduct problems while social factors include poverty, family problems, and social acceptability of local alcoholic drinks like palm-wine (Freud, 1953; Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2008, Ndu, Ndu, Olarewaju & Somoye, 2009)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion