Prevalence of psychoactive substance use among male adolescents in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Substance use in the adolescent period is recognized as a growing problem in Nigeria. The problem is even more significant among male adolescents in southwest Nigeria with consequent legal and academic problems.Objectives: The study aimed to describe the pattern of substance use among male secondary-school adolescents and identify sociodemographic correlates of substance use.Methods:. A total sampling of male students in senior classes of secondary schools selected randomly from urban and semi-urban areas of Ibadan a city in Nigeria were approached for the study.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 16.49 years (SD ±1.31). Lifetime use of any psychoactive substance was 54%. The most common substance ever used by respondents were non-amphetamine stimulants (39%) followed by alcohol (31%) while hallucinogens (1.0%) and cocaine (1.0%) were the least ever used. None of the respondents had never used an amphetamine-type stimulant. Seven of the respondents (2.9%) reported ever using a psychoactive substance though injection in the last 3 months.Conclusion: This study reports a high prevalence of psychoactive substance use among male secondary-school adolescents in Ibadan southwest Nigeria. It showed that being in a higher class and engaging in paid work after school were factors significantly associated with substance use. The findings of this study have implications for adolescent mental health intervention in the field of addiction.