SOCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION IJAGUN, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Substance abuse has long been a significant challenge in public health, persisting throughout history. There is a growing concern over the escalating use of substances among undergraduate students, posing serious threats to societies worldwide. This trend not only jeopardizes physical health but also undermines social and ethical standards. Substance abuse among undergraduates leads to property damage within educational institutions and diminishes the prospects of academic success of students. In examining the social factors influencing substance abuse among undergraduates at Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijagun, Ogun State, a descriptive survey research design was employed. The study utilized a simple random sampling technique to select a sample of eight hundred (800) undergraduates. The researcher designed a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.78 to investigate substance abuse among undergraduates, employing statistical tools such as frequency counts, percentages, and chi-square tests at a significance level of 0.05. The analysis resulted in the rejection of all three hypotheses. The study identified peer pressure, substance availability, and advertisements as significant contributors to substance abuse among undergraduates. Consequently, the study recommends mandatory medical testing for substance abuse across all undergraduate levels and advocates for active involvement of health educators in educating students, including integration of substance abuse topics into General Studies (GNS) courses. Keywords: Peer Pressure, Substance Abuse, Undergraduates.