Communication Interventions for Reducing Substance Use Disorder Among Youths in Rivers State

This study investigated youth and substance use disorder (SUD) in Rivers State: A communicationbased intervention with the intent of finding out how communication can be used to combat the prevalence of substance use disorder among youths in Rivers State and as well propose a communication agenda where the youths can be actively involved as it concerns their well-being and welfare. This is the pivot on which the research was hinged. It adopted the elaboration likelihood model theory with the broad objective of identifying key factors contributing to substance use disorder among youths and propose a communication agenda factored to the cultural and social content of Rivers State. The survey method was used for the study through a structured questionnaire and interviews. The study design was quantitative; it adopted a purposive and multistage sampling techniques to find out if communication through various channels has actually helped in combating the prevalence of substance use disorder. The population of the study was based on six selected local government areas in Rivers State. The findings were that most rehabilitation homes, schools, peer groups, etc. do massive campaigns with the conventional, social media, televisions, newspapers, NGOs and other interested individuals participate in the campaign against substance use disorder in Rivers State. The study concluded that the media should portray a clear understanding of the implications of these drugs on the brain and the nuisance it causes to the society. The church and other public organizations, NGOs should be involved in organizing campaigns through workshops, presentations etc. to combat the prevalence of substance use disorder in Rivers State. The study recommended that parental/Guardians, schools, churches and rehab homes etc. should be actively involved in sensitizing youths about substance use disorder, ministry of Education should include substance use disorder in their curriculum for all levels of education and also strict measures be put in place for the licensing of patent medicine stores.