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Risk Factors for the Misuse of Psychoactive Substances Among University Students in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Received: 12 April 2017     Accepted: 18 April 2017     Published: 24 April 2017
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Abstract

The use of psychoactive substances has dire consequences for the individual and the society at large. This study aims to ascertain the risk factors for the misuse of psychoactive substances among University students in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety three subjects participated in the study. Questionnaires on risk factors and varieties of psychoactive substances used as well as on socio-demographic variables were administered to each participant.The most commonly used psychoactive substance was Alcohol 178(60.8%). The commonest reason for using a psychoactive substance was peer group influence 166(56.7%). Frustration was significantly associated with academic class (X2 = 17.358, df=5, p<0.05) and family history of use of the substance (X2 = 6.22, df=1, p <0.05).Academic class was also significantly associated with peer group influence (X2 = 28.914, df=5, p <0.05), parental deprivation (X2 = 20.331, df=5, p<0.05), age (X2 = 25.595, df=18, p<0.05) and influence of parents who engage in the use and abuse of substances (X2 = 22.057, df=5, p<0.05).Gender was significantly associated with influence of parents who use psychoactive substances (X2 = 9.305, df=1, p<0.05).The multiplicity of significant risk factors for psychoactive substance use underscores the need to improve the social support for students and reduce the environmental factors that make the young and impressionable minds more susceptible to drug use. The urgent need for deliberate drug- demand reduction strategies to be quickly employed in schools is imperative.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14
Page(s) 26-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Risk, Psychoactive, Substances, Significant, Association, Drugs, Factors

References
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[5] Okpataku CI, Kwanashie HO, Ejiofor JF, Olisah VO. Prevalence and socio demographic risk factors associated with psychoactive substance use in psychiatric out-patinets of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Nigeria Med 2014; 55: 460-464
[6] Kaminerr Y. Psychoactive substance abuse and dependence as a risk factor in adolescent – attempted and completed suicide. The American Journal of Addictions. 1992: Doi 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1992.tb00003.x
[7] Tsefaye G; Derese A, Hambisa MT, Substance Use and Associated Factors among University students in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Addiction 2014. Article ID 969837, 8pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/969837.
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[14] Chukwujekwu DC, Stanley HO, Chu JC, Frank-Briggs A. The prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students in Eleme, a sub-urban area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of child language and communication disorders in Nigeria 2008; 1(2): 32-42.
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[16] Thompson RJ, Mata J, Jaeggi SM, Buschkuchi M, Jonides J, Gotib IH. Maladaptive Coping, Adaptive Coping and Depressive Symptoms: Variations of cross age and depressive State. Behave Res Ther. 2010; 48(6): 459-466.
[17] Brown GQ, Harris GK, Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory – II. Psychological corporation; San Antonio, TX: 1996.
[18] Odejide AO, Ohaeri JU, Adelekan M, Ikuesann BA. Alcohol Treatment system in Nigeria. alcohol and Alcoholism 1989; 24; 347-353.
[19] Stanley PC (ed). Alcohol: A silent Killer. Port Harcourt University of Port Harcourt Press – 2003: 1-68.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald. (2017). Risk Factors for the Misuse of Psychoactive Substances Among University Students in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 5(2), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14

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    ACS Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald. Risk Factors for the Misuse of Psychoactive Substances Among University Students in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2017, 5(2), 26-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14

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    AMA Style

    Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald. Risk Factors for the Misuse of Psychoactive Substances Among University Students in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2017;5(2):26-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14,
      author = {Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald},
      title = {Risk Factors for the Misuse of Psychoactive Substances Among University Students in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {26-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20170502.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20170502.14},
      abstract = {The use of psychoactive substances has dire consequences for the individual and the society at large. This study aims to ascertain the risk factors for the misuse of psychoactive substances among University students in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety three subjects participated in the study. Questionnaires on risk factors and varieties of psychoactive substances used as well as on socio-demographic variables were administered to each participant.The most commonly used psychoactive substance was Alcohol 178(60.8%). The commonest reason for using a psychoactive substance was peer group influence 166(56.7%). Frustration was significantly associated with academic class (X2 = 17.358, df=5, p<0.05) and family history of use of the substance (X2 = 6.22, df=1, p <0.05).Academic class was also significantly associated with peer group influence (X2 = 28.914, df=5, p <0.05), parental deprivation (X2 = 20.331, df=5, p<0.05), age (X2 = 25.595, df=18, p<0.05) and influence of parents who engage in the use and abuse of substances (X2 = 22.057, df=5, p<0.05).Gender was significantly associated with influence of parents who use psychoactive substances (X2 = 9.305, df=1, p<0.05).The multiplicity of significant risk factors for psychoactive substance use underscores the need to improve the social support for students and reduce the environmental factors that make the young and impressionable minds more susceptible to drug use. The urgent need for deliberate drug- demand reduction strategies to be quickly employed in schools is imperative.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AU  - Chukwujekwu Chidozie Donald
    Y1  - 2017/04/24
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    AB  - The use of psychoactive substances has dire consequences for the individual and the society at large. This study aims to ascertain the risk factors for the misuse of psychoactive substances among University students in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety three subjects participated in the study. Questionnaires on risk factors and varieties of psychoactive substances used as well as on socio-demographic variables were administered to each participant.The most commonly used psychoactive substance was Alcohol 178(60.8%). The commonest reason for using a psychoactive substance was peer group influence 166(56.7%). Frustration was significantly associated with academic class (X2 = 17.358, df=5, p<0.05) and family history of use of the substance (X2 = 6.22, df=1, p <0.05).Academic class was also significantly associated with peer group influence (X2 = 28.914, df=5, p <0.05), parental deprivation (X2 = 20.331, df=5, p<0.05), age (X2 = 25.595, df=18, p<0.05) and influence of parents who engage in the use and abuse of substances (X2 = 22.057, df=5, p<0.05).Gender was significantly associated with influence of parents who use psychoactive substances (X2 = 9.305, df=1, p<0.05).The multiplicity of significant risk factors for psychoactive substance use underscores the need to improve the social support for students and reduce the environmental factors that make the young and impressionable minds more susceptible to drug use. The urgent need for deliberate drug- demand reduction strategies to be quickly employed in schools is imperative.
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Author Information
  • Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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