Prevalence, Patterns, and Risk Levels of Substance Abuse among Senior Secondary School Students in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse among adolescents has become a major global public health challenge especially in Nigeria. However, region-specific epidemiological data, particularly in Oyo State, remains limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, patterns, and risk levels of substance abuse among senior secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed. Six hundred (600) senior secondary school students were selected through multistage sampling from public secondary schools in Oyo State. Data were collected using the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Data were analysed using SPSS (version 27), and results were presented using frequency tables and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was determined at p<0.05.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15.45±1.73years. The prevalence of substance abuse was 35.7%. The most commonly abused substances were alcohol (125, 58.4%) and opioids (120, 56.1%), with 55 (25.7%) reporting polysubstance use. The ASSIST risk classification revealed that while the majority of students were at low risk (388, 64.7%), a substantial proportion were at moderate risk (63, 10.5%) and high risk (149, 24.8%). Significant associations were found between gender (χ² = 25.386, p<0.001), family type (χ² = 13.043, p = 0.042), living arrangement (χ² = 20.637, p = 0.002) and the risk levels of substance abuse.

Conclusion: Substance abuse is prevalent among senior secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria, with a significant minority at moderate to high risk. There is an urgent need for school-based prevention and early intervention programmes targeting these specific substances and high-risk groups.