Pattern of substance use among senior students of command secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of drug use among senior secondary school students within military locations in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2006. RESULTS: Five hundred ten students participated with a mean age of 15.0 +/- 1.2 years. The prevalence of lifetime use of any substance was 15.3%. Alcohol (33.9%), solvents (17.3%), and tobacco (10.6%) were the most commonly used substances. Only gender and age were associated with the lifetime use of tobacco and solvents (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The information provided a useful baseline on which subsequent interventions could be based and evaluated.