Prevalence And Patterns Of Psycho Active Substance Use Among Senior Secondary School Students In Dala Local Government Area Of Kano State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to determine prevalence and patterns of Psychoactive Substance use

among Senior Secondary School Students in Dala Local Government Area (LGA), Kano State

Nigeria. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling

procedure was used to select two Secondary Schools out of the ten Government Senior

Secondary School in Dala LGA, of Kano State. Both Schools have a combined population of

2293 students made up 1202 boys and 1096 girls. The two Schools sample were Government

Secondary School Kurna Asabe for boys and Government Senior Secondary School Kuka

bulukiya for girls. The instrument for Data collection was a WHO Youth Drug Survey

(WHOYDSQ) adapted questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was established using a

test re-test and computed using Pearson Moment Correlation. Coefficient of 0.82 was obtained.

Data generated was subjected to descriptive statistics and analysed using Chi-square. The

prevalence of psychoactive substance use among Government Senior Secondary School in Dala

LGA, of Kano State shows that majority (91.1%) of the respondents have been using

psychoactive substances. The commonest substances used were kola nut (87.4%), tobacco (15%)

and cannabis (5.5%). more than half of the users of each of the substances take it occasionally,

using them on one to five days in a month except kolanut taken on twenty or more days in a

month. They include male (52.9%), female (47.1%). Majority (68.1%) of the respondents were

between 18-20 years. Most of the respondents who use psychoactive substances were introduced

by their friends (60.6%), family (27.6%) and by nobody (5.7%). Most (27.9%) first use kolanut

at the age less than 10 years, alcoholic beverages at the age of 11-12years (25.6%) while others

like tobacco, cannabis at 19-and above years (38.3%). Major reasons for using psychoactive

substance include to be sociable (25.4%) and for enjoyment (24.4%). There was significant

difference (p < 0.05) between Males and females in psychoactive substance use. The pattern of

use is dependent on the type of psychoactive substances (p < 0.05). Also the psychoactive

substances use based on lifetime use is dependent on the age at first use (p < 0.05). In conclusion

the prevalence of substance abuse among Senior Secondary School students is high as such

Government, Parents and Teachers needs to joint hands and address the problems.