Title: Public Perception Of The Factors Influencing The Prevalence Of Substance Abuse In Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors: Ejeh Benedict Abu Ibrahim John Aduke Olufunmilayo Bello Muhammad Fatima Alamai
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 99-107
Publication Date: 2025/03/28
Abstract:
The study was conducted to assess the determinants of the prevalence of substance abuse in Kaduna State. The objectives were to assess the knowledge of substance abuse in Kaduna State; examine the sources of knowledge of substance abuse and to examine the determinants of substance abuse in the study area. Multi stage simple random sampling technique was used to select 396 respondents. Data were collected through self-developed substance abuse questionnaire (SAQ), and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study revealed a very high knowledge of SA among the public in the study area. Friends/peers (28%) and family/relatives (22%) are the source of knowledge. The principal component analysis (PCA) result group the perceived determinants of SA into six such as social risk factors (19.5%), individual risk factors (11.7%), economic risk factors (10.8%), psychological risk factors (9.4%), positive image of advert and model risk factors (7.0%) and limited parental upbringing (6.0%) respectively with eigen value greater than I. It is therefore recommended that; Government in conjunction with the health education department should periodically organize seminars to educate the university community on the short and long term health consequences of substance abuse as this will go a long way to discourage both and adult from abusing drugs, there is need by National University Commission to introduce drug education as a general studies (GNS) course in tertiary institutions with the focus on health and career implications of substance abuse and rehabilitation of substance abusers.