YOUTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN NIGERIA: SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DRIVERS IN ILESA EAST

The pattern and determinants of psychoactive drug use among young people in Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria was investigated, with a view to identifying psychoactive drugs use. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. Three Hundred and Twenty (320) copies of questionnaire were administered. Administration and collection of the instrument lasted for three months. Data were analyzed with the use of frequency counts, percentage, means, and standard deviation. Results unveiled among others that drugs are abused to relief pressure, boost esteem, experimental curiosity, curb sleep while working/reading, genetic predisposition, family issues, and drug availability as the existing determinants of drug use. The patterns of drug abuse are source of getting drugs, reason for drug use, length of drug use and frequency of drug use. The study established the types of drugs being abused, confirmed the reasons for drug abuse and established the pattern of drug abuse. Therefore, government should initiate necessary educational programmers for the adolescents during early adolescence, to address issues such as resisting peer pressure, finding healthy avenues to feel good about self, family history of substance and family values related to substance use behaviours in Ilesa East local government area of Osun State.