The menace of psychoactive substance use among Nigerian undergraduates

Abstract

The use of psychoactive substances has been identified as a public health concern in Nigeria, and this paper is on its use as a maladaptive coping mechanism among university undergraduates in Nigeria. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and marijuana are the more commonly used psychoactive substances among Nigerian undergraduates for various maladaptive reasons which include, coping with the stress of their studies, boosting academic performance, relaxation/recreation, enhancing sexual performances, etc. The use of these psychoactive substances has been reported to be associated with factors such as the male gender, living alone in school, higher classes, older age, etc, and some of the adverse effects reported in users include getting into quarrels and fights, problems with parents and teachers, risky sexual behaviours and health-related problems, etc.