Psychoactive Substance Use Among Nigerian Students; Patterns and Sociodemographic Correlates

Abstract

The increase in use and misuse of psychoactive substances is a global challenge of grave public health concern. This study aims to ascertain the patterns and socio-demographic correlates of psychoactive substances among undergraduates in a Nigerian University. Two hundred and ninety three subjects participated in the study. Questionnaires on risk factors and variation of psychoactive substances abused as well as on socio-demographic variables were administered to each participant. The prevalence of psychoactive substance use was 65.5%. the odds for use of the drugs was highest with alcohol 178(60.8%) and least for inhalational solvents 75(25.6%).There was significant association between gender and the use of: Cannabis X 2 = 7.846, df=1, p<0.05, Cocaine X 2 = 36.602, df=1, p<0.05,Other opioids X 2 = 29.847, df=1, p<0.05, Sleeping pills X 2 = 9.862, df=2, p<0.05. Nicotine X 2 = 17.264, df=1, p<0.05, Inhalational solvents X 2 = 6.598, df=1, p<0.05. Similarly, there was significant association between academic class and:-Cannabis X 2 = 14.916, df=5, p<0.05, Heroine X 2 = 12.272, df=5, p<0.05,Codeine X 2 = 9.577, df=1, p<0.05, Other Opioids X 2 = 15.962, df=5, p<0.05, Nicotine X 2 = 15.496, df=5, p<0.05, Caffeine X 2 = 13.428, df=5, p<0.05, Inhalational solvents X 2 = 21.505, df=5, p<0.05. Also there was significant association between family history of use of psychoactive substances and use of Opioids X 2 = 8.157, df=1, p<0.05The propensity of use of psychoactive substance has become a global emergency that requires desperate measures to curtail. This study is an effort to further emphasize this urgency.