Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2023)

Substance abuse is common among teens and young adults. This has become a public health problem in Nigeria and other parts of the world. This study aimed to determine the different types of substances abused and the reasons for abusing pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical substances among tertiary and secondary school students in Bayelsa State of Nigeria. The study is a descriptive correlational cross-sectional study. The sampling technique used was simple random sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health Research and Ethics Committee, the principal, the University Ethics community, and the local council areas’ ethics committees. A sampling frame was made for six faculties in Niger Delta University namely: Pharmacy, Engineering, Art, Social Sciences, Management, and Sciences. Likewise, this was done for the different classes in the Secondary School from junior secondary two to senior secondary three. The sample size for this study was 308 for secondary school and 384 for tertiary school (n=692). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of 68.4% of respondents were males. The substances commonly abused among the respondents were sildenafil, tramadol, piriton, codeine, and rohypnol. While the non-pharmaceuticals were kola-nut to alcoholic beverages. This study results showed that there was no association in the use of cocaine codeine, tramadol, marijuana, bromhexine, cyproheptadine, diazepam, chlorpheniramine, beer, local gin, cigarette, kola nut, amphetamines, paints, gum/glues, methylated spirit and coke, sildenafil, petrol, Rohypnol and hot drinks (whisky/brandy) among tertiary and secondary school students. The study showed that 79.9%, 79.2%, 74.4%, and 65.3%, of respondents respectively in secondary school abuse drugs/substances to relieve depression, relieve anxiety, build muscles, and relieve body pain and peer pressure among other reasons. There were associations (P > 0.05) between reasons; to relieve depression, peer pressure, stimulating appetite, being hard-hearted, or engaging in a fight among the respondents. There was an association between relief of anxiety (x2) = 18.687; df = 6; P-value = 0.005) and muscle building among tertiary and secondary school students. Therefore, the government and all relevant agencies need to take appropriate steps in curbing this menace, putting strategic measures and interventions capable of arresting substance abuse among tertiary and secondary school students.