Abstract
Substance abuse among youths is fast becoming a global Public Health concern. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with substance abuse in selected public schools in Ogbomoso, South-West Nigeria. Cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling method were utilized among 249 study participants who gave informed consent/assent. Data were collected using facilitated, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics using the Chi-Square test were carried out at p<0.05. The mean age of our respondents was 16.3±2SD; 40.0% of them had positive attitude to substance abuse while 21.7% had ever consumed alcoholic drinks. In all, 31(26.3%) of the respondents satisfied the criteria used in defining substance abuse. Tramadol was the most commonly abused substance apart from alcohol; reported by 39.0% of the substance abusers. Most (35.5%) of the substance abusers did so believing it could enhance their academic performance. The proportion of respondents who were substance abusers was significantly higher among students who had not received any formal lectures on the subject at school compared to those who had. (47.5% vs 29.7% ;p=0.023). Our findings underscore an urgent need to intensify awareness against substance abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use African Health SciencesAfrican Health Sciences Vol 18 Issue 3, September, 2018 have used psychoactive substances with cannabis being the most commonly abused substance
WHO estimated that 0.7% of the global burden of disease in 2004 was due to cocaine and opioid use, with the social cost of illicit substance use being in the region of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in those countries which have measured it[2]
Alex-Hart reported a figure of 30.6% as the proportion of secondary school students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria who had taken alcoholic drinks before the survey[6]
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use African Health SciencesAfrican Health Sciences Vol 18 Issue 3, September, 2018 have used psychoactive substances with cannabis being the most commonly abused substance. More than 2.6 million young people aged 10 to 24 die each year in the world These deaths are mostly due to preventable causes such as substance abuse. Not less than 14% of adolescent girls and 18% of boys aged 13–15 years in low- and middle-income countries are reported to have been taking alcoholic drinks[2]. Results: The mean age of our respondents was 16.3±2SD; 40.0% of them had positive attitude to substance abuse while 21.7% had ever consumed alcoholic drinks. Conclusion: Our findings underscore an urgent need to intensify awareness against substance abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria. Substance abuse among students in selected secondary schools of an urban community of Oyo-state, South West Nigeria: implication for policy action.
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