Prevalence, Sociodemograhic Characteristics and Substance Abuse among Young Persons in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Substance Abuse among youths is a major public health challenge globally. Complications associated with drug abuse include psychiatric disorders, sexual violence, drug dependence and criminal tendencies. The study set out to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics associated with Substance abuse among the young in Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling technique was used with a structured interviewer administered questionnaire among 412 study respondents who gave informed consent. All relevant data such as socio-demographic information, substance abuse was collected and analyzed using SPSS 23. The mean age (SD) of the study subjects was 19.03(3.09) years. The age group with the highest use of drugs was 19-22 years. Among drug abusers, male subjects (10.8%) had a higher rate of substance use compared to females (6.2%). In all, 29(8.3%) of the respondents satisfied the criteria for defining substance abuse. Cannabis was the most named substance abused accounting for 86 (20.9%) followed by alcohol and tramadol respectively (19.7% and 11.2%). Alcohol was the most commonly abused substance accounting for 17(58.6%). This was closely followed by Tramadol 41.4%. 52.4% of the respondents had no knowledge about the definition of substance abuse. About 32.3% of the subjects got information about Substance abuse from friends. The commonest reason for illegal drug use was peer influence which accounted for 50% of the respondents. Majority of the substance abusers (62.5%) who continued to abuse drugs did so because of the euphoric feeling they got from its use. Alcohol is still the most commonly abused substance among young persons in our environment as shown in this study and all effort be made the relevance authorities to control the illicit use of this substance in our society.