Determinants of substance abuse among senior secondary students in Mainland local government, Lagos
Abstract
Background
The World Health Organization defines a psychoactive substance as any
substance that, when taken by a person, modifies perception, mood,
cognition, behavior or motor functions and includes illicit and licit substances,
whether or not their use brings about dependence problems in individual, and
whether or not people consider them harmful. The use of drugs among
adolescents is a global phenomenon eating deep into the fabrics of our society.
Students are most vulnerable at this transformative stage in their life. What
are the determinants of drug abuse by Students?
Methodology
This research was a cross sectional descriptive design to identify the factors or
determinants of substance abuse among Students in Public Senior Secondary
Schools in Mainland Local Government, Lagos. A sample size of two hundred and sixty two was determined
and used from randomly selected five out of nine public schools identified. Multi stage sampling (including
simple random and systematic sampling) and probability proportional to size methods were usefully
employed in scientific selection of 262 samples and subsequent data collection in a total sample frame of
1,938 students. Self administered questionnaire consisting of open and close-ended questions generated
using research objectives was used in data collection.
Result
It identified that there is significant association between educational levels of respondents’ parents and their
use of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana at P-values of 0.002, 0.010 and 0.005 respectively, but there is no
significant association in the use of cocaine at P-value of 0.111. It also found that there is a significant
association between household structure of respondents and their use of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana at
P-values of 0.000, 0.000 and 0.033 respectively, but there is no significant association in the use of cocaine at
P-value of 0.229.
Conclusion
Everybody is at risk of drugs. It is hence recommended that Government and Non-governmental agencies,
Schools, Religious organizations and Parents should put up a more proactive disposition in learning and
teaching of adolescents on the dangers of drug use or abuse as well as pay closer attention to children as they
are very vulnerable at the tender stage of development.
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