Leveraging Education to Tackle Substance Abuse among University Students in North-central Nigeria: Implications for Counselling.

Abstract Substance abuse among students poses a serious threat to academic performance, mental health, and national development. This study investigated how education can be leveraged to tackle substance abuse among students and examined the implications for counselling practice in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Employing a mixed-methods design, data were gathered from 300 undergraduate students using structured questionnaires and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation, while qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. Results showed that educational interventions significantly enhance students’ awareness and preventive attitudes toward substance use (𝑥̄ = 3.40). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < .05) was found between educational exposure and students’ preventive behavior. Counselling was identified as a critical factor in promoting self-control, life skills, and positive behavioral change. However, inadequate curriculum integration and weak institutional support limited the overall effectiveness of these efforts. The study concludes that education, reinforced through proactive counselling and community collaboration, is an effective mechanism for preventing substance abuse among students. It recommends strengthening substance education within school curricula, continuous training of counsellors, and building partnerships between educational institutions, families, and community organizations to sustain behavioural reform and student well-being. Keywords: Education, Substance Abuse, Counselling, Preventive Behaviour, Students, Nigeria