Psychological, social, and cultural meaning of substance abuse among adolescents in Lagos state, Nigeria

PURPOSE: The aims of this study is to list the common substances that adolescents abuse and to discover the motives behind the abuse of substances among adolescents. METHODS: This qualitative study employed a purposive sampling method using the snowball technique. Data was collected using semi structured interview that triangulates with focused group discussion and field observation. 17 students were interviewed, and 20 students were present for the focused group discussion. RESULTS: The outcome of these research revealed that the most abused substance among the adolescents is palm wine (n = 15), followed by alcohol (n = 12), red wine, 13 respondents. Beer had 3 respondents and cigarette, marijuana, tramadol had 2 each. Thematic analysis revealed main themes such as hedonic pursuits, eudemonic efforts and ecosystem. Hedonic pursuits consist of subthemes such as excitation and adventure. Eudemonic efforts consist of subthemes such as functional emotional and social motives. Finally, ecosystem has subthemes such as accessibility, poverty, tradition and parental influence CONCLUSION: The rate of substance abuse among Nigerian adolescents is very high and it requires a lot of attention and most importantly, swift intervention by the government, schools and individual family. Government and educational institutions should engage with psychologist and therapist to improve awareness of parents on substance abuse and design exciting and adventurous intervention programs that are consistent with their motives for substance abuse.