Attitude towards Illicit Drug Use and Dependency among Senior In-School Adolescents in Nsukka Education Zone, Enugu State

Abstract

Illicit drug use and dependency continues to be the major risk behaviour among in-school adolescents and youth, with physical and mental health implications. Despite known risks associated with illicit drugs, in-school adolescents continue using these drugs. This study investigated attitude towards illicit drug use and dependency among senior in-school adolescents in Nsukka Education zone, Enugu State. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. The population for the study consisted of 12,040 in-school adolescents. The sample was 600 in-school adolescents drawn using a two-stage sampling procedure. A validated Attitude towards Illicit Drug Use and Dependency Questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages and Pearson Chi-square statistic were used to analyse and answer the research questions and hypotheses respectively. Results showed that: overall, more than two-third (75.2percent) of senior in-school adolescents had positive attitude towards illicit drug use and dependency. There were significant differences in responses on attitude towards illicit drug use and dependency among in-school adolescents based on gender and location (p<.05). The authors recommended among others that the Ministry of Education (Federal and State) should add to their curricular a Drug Education for both the primary and post-primary schools, along with lectures, seminars, rallies, and film shows for the youth’s and adolescents on the adverse effects of illicit drug use on students’ academic performance, health and personality.