AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOURAL IMPACT OF DRUG ABUSE SENSITISATION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS: A CHALLENGE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION

This study examined the awareness and behavioural impact of drug abuse sensitisation among primary school children in Port Harcourt Metropolis: A challenge for social change communication. The social cognitive theory and theory of planned behaviour were anchored in this study. This study adopted a positivist research philosophy, and a cross‑sectional survey research design. The population comprised all primary five and six pupils in public and private primary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis, which the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board reports to include 12,450 pupils enrolled in 2025 across 85 schools (RSUBEB, 2025). A sample size of 384 pupils was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) statistical table for large populations. The sampling technique combined stratified sampling. Primary data were collected using a structured, researcher‑administered questionnaire designed with closed‑ended items. The researcher employed quantitative data analysis methods, using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviation) to profile awareness and behavioural indicators and inferential statistics (correlation and multiple regression) to test hypothesised relationships. The study revealed that primary school children in Port Harcourt Metropolis demonstrated a moderate to high level of awareness regarding drug abuse, with most pupils correctly identifying that drugs could harm health, cause trouble at home or school, and are inappropriate for children their age, indicating that awareness efforts through school-based sensitisation programmes have effectively conveyed critical knowledge about the dangers of substance use. The study concluded that primary school children in Port Harcourt Metropolis have a moderate to high level of awareness regarding drug abuse, recognising its harmful effects on health, school performance, and social life, which demonstrates the effectiveness of awareness campaigns in equipping young learners with critical knowledge about substance use. The study recommended that the Rivers State Ministry of Education and school administrators should regularly organise age-appropriate drug awareness programmes in primary schools to ensure that children maintain high knowledge of the risks and consequences of substance use