Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in Nigeria: Counselling Implications

This study investigated alcoholism and drug abuse in Nigeria, focusing on its prevalence, determinants, health and social consequences, effects on productivity and education, and counselling intervention strategies. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 600 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean scores, standard deviations, correlation, and t-test statistics. The findings revealed among others that alcoholism and drug abuse were highly prevalent, as 69.0% of respondents perceived the problem as either highly prevalent or very highly prevalent. Public enlightenment campaigns (Mean = 3.74) and individual counselling (Mean = 3.70) were identified as effective intervention strategies. Hypotheses testing revealed significant relationships among the variables studied (p < 0.05). The study concluded that comprehensive preventive, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes were essential for addressing substance abuse in Nigeria.