Perception of Substance Abuse Amongst Adolescents and Young Adults in Ikenne Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Substance abuse describes the unsafe use of psychoactive substances. It leads to dependence on the abused substance with subsequent development of health disorders and mortality. Globally, millions of adolescents and young adults from low and middle income countries are prone to substance abuse with consequent far reaching impact on national development. This study was done to assess the perception of substance abuse amongst the adolescents and young adults in Ikenne local government area, Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Information was gathered via nine focus group discussions. Systematic Analysis of data was done. Ninety-three youths (31 males and 62 females) aged 19.5 ± 3.9 years participated. Majority of the participants showed high level of awareness on substance abuse and its effects. They stated that it was commonplace in the community, with peer pressure being the major influencing factor. Alcohol was perceived to be the commonest abused substance. Others include cigarettes, marijuana and codeine. None were aware of existing laws against substance abuse. The major factor responsible for the negative perception in the abuse of substance was peer influence and low level of awareness of the National regulations on substance abuse. It is recommended that more education, increase in awareness of the national regulations and peer-modelling technique should be strengthened within the community to correct the negative perception by these group of people.

Do We Abuse Drugs? Reports of Social Studies and Early Childhood Education Student-Teachers in two Nigerian Colleges of Education

“…Another possible reason is peer pressure which the youth today find a way to enforce on their friends to join them in illicit acts such as abuse of drugs. This was confirmed through some past findings of the studies conducted by Lawal & Aliyu (2020), Alabi, et al (2020), Sarkingobir et al (2020), Alimi, et al (2020) and Olowo (2020) in which participants confirmed being involved in abuse of drugs as a result of peer pressure. Also, this finding may be linked to the fact that the abusers among the student-teachers have been into the act before they gained admission into the college.…”

“…Lawal and Aliyu (2020) assessed the causes of drugs and substances abuse among youth in Katsina Metropolis. Similarly, Alabi et al (2020) investigated the perception of substance abuse amongst adolescents and young adults in Ikenne Local Government, Ogun State. Yahaya (2019) investigated the effect of drug abuse among youth in Nasarawa Local Government, Kano State.…”

“…Studies have revealed various degree or extent of involvement of the youth in drug abuse (Dimas et al,2021;Alabi, et al, 2020;Ogunsola, et al, 2020;Sarkingobir, et al, 2020;Oshodi et al, 2010;Fatoye & Morakinyo, 2002;Atwoli et al, 2011;Eman & Kholoud , 2017). Also, previous studies have reported several reasons given by youth for getting involved in abuse of drugs.…”

“…Also, previous studies have reported several reasons given by youth for getting involved in abuse of drugs. Some of these reasons include peer pressure (Lawal & Aliyu, 2020;Alabi, et al, 2020;Sarkingobir et al, 2020;Alimi et al, 2020;Olowo, 2020), desire for enjoyment (Lawal & Aliyu, 2020), frustration, poverty, lack of proper enacted laws to empower the youth (Yahaya, 2019;Alimi, et al, 2020), the need to cope with academic challenges (Okafor, 2020;Olowo, 2020), broken home, poor socialization, access to the drugs (Alimi, et al, 2020), rebellion, overwork/learning, shyness, fear, parental influence, fun and lack of role model (Sarkingobir et al, 2020;Amosun et al, 2010), relaxation, relieving stress (Atwoli, et al, 2011), desire to run away from reality of failure (Olowo, 2020;Amosun et al, 2010), stimulation of brains and the need to talk to opposite sex (Amosun et al, 2010).…”