Abstract
Psychoactive substance use is a major global public health issue. Use of psychoactive substances has been associated with negative consequences among students. The study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychoactive substance use among undergraduate students in a Nigerian university. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 763 undergraduate students of Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria, recruited using multi-stage sampling technique. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics and pattern of psychoactive substance use were collected using a structured questionnaire. The lifetime rate of psychoactive substance use was 84.5%. Alcohol had the highest rate of lifetime (82.5%) and 12-month (61.1%) use. There was a similar rate of lifetime use of psychoactive substances among males (86.1%) and females (83.4%). Age (p<0.05) and place of residence (p<0.05) were significantly associated with lifetime psychoactive substance use. Catholics (OR:1.43; 1.03 - 1.99), whose friend (OR:1.94; 1.39 - 2.71), roommate (OR:3.06; (1.62 - 5.78) or brother (OR:1.22; 0.77 - 1.93) uses psychoactive substances were significantly more likely to have used substances in the past 12-months. There is a high rate of psychoactive substance use among the students. Age, religion, place of residence, family and peer use of substances are important determinants of psychoactive substance use.
Highlights
Psychoactive substances are a class of substances, licit and illicit, that when ingested or administered affect mental processes.[1]
Among undergraduate students in Nigeria, the rate of psychoactive substance use is reported to be far higher than what is reported among the general populace.[7,8,9,10]
Students were included in the study if they were current undergraduate students of IMSU who gave consent to be part of the study and were aged between 18-30 years
Summary
Psychoactive substances are a class of substances, licit and illicit, that when ingested or administered affect mental processes.[1]. Psychoactive substance use is a major global public health issue. Use of psychoactive substances has been associated with negative consequences among students. Objective: The study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychoactive substance use among undergraduate students in a Nigerian university. Results: The lifetime rate of psychoactive substance use was 84.5%. Alcohol had the highest rate of lifetime (82.5%) and 12-month (61.1%) use. There was a similar rate of lifetime use of psychoactive substances among males (86.1%) and females (83.4%). Age (p
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