Involvement of Selected Church Denominations in Drug Abuse Prevention Among Adolescents in Ede South Local Government Area, Osun State

In Nigeria, varying rates of drug abuse among adolescents have been reported. This study therefore investigated into the involvement of the church in adolescent drug abuse so as to curb a furtherance of this social malaise among Nigerian adolescents. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The target population for the study included: members and ministers of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Living Faith Church (LFC), Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and Baptist Church, all in Ede South Local Government Area (ESLGA). A sample size of fifteen respondents was randomly selected from each of the four churches to ensure that the population of the study has an equal chance of being picked which totalled sixty (60) participants in all. The research instrument used for this research was a questionnaire. Percentage and frequency counts were adopted to analyse the data collected for the study. According to the findings of the study, causes of drug abuse include peer pressure, various malfunctioning familial dynamics, media influence, and so on. The study further established that drug abuse can lead to: addiction, various physical health complications, and so on. Regular workshops and seminars are the various forms of church involvement preventing drug abuse among adolescents. These various programmes of the church are obstructed by stigma and denial, resource constraints, and traditional practices, To address these challenges, programme organizers were counselled to engage in community sensitization efforts and adapt the programmes to the cultural and social context of Ede, Osun State.