Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among Students of College of Health Sciences Evangel University Akaeze

ABSTRACTSubstance abuse is a significant societal and health issue among Nigerian youth, leading to adverse effects on their quality of life and economic development. To address this, a study was conducted at Evangel University Akaeze's College of Health Sciences to assess the prevalence of substance abuse. The study aimed to determine the percentage of students engaged in substance use and abuse, identify the most commonly abused substances, establish the age at which students begin substance abuse, and uncover the motivations behind it. The study surveyed 258 students out of 729 (ranging from 200-level to 500-level) using a self-designed questionnaire with 24 items, collecting data from May to November 2022. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, with results presented in tables, frequencies, and percentages. The findings revealed that weed was the most frequently abused substance at 81.39%. A significant portion of students, 62.02%, had abused various drugs, whether prescribed or not. Moreover, 73.62% reported infrequent drug use, and 74.42% cited self-medication for ailments as the primary reason for drug use. The study also highlighted that the age range for the initiation of substance abuse was between 22-27 years, encompassing 56.12% of cases. Lastly, 60.07% of respondents indicated that they abused substances to enhance alertness for reading. The study's recommendation include the development, implementation, and regular review of a school behavioral code aligned with substance abuse policies by school administrators. Keywords: Substance, Psychoactive, Prevalence, Disorder, Abuse, Addiction