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

Authors

  • Tochi Emmanuel Iwuagwu University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • Mgbo Okeke Kalu Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri
  • Charity Orisa-Ubi Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  • Jacinta Obiageli Uwa University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • Ugoma Deborah Ezeani University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Keywords:

Attitude, Illicit Drug, Dependency, In-school Adolescents

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.

Author Biographies

Tochi Emmanuel Iwuagwu, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education

Mgbo Okeke Kalu, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri

Department of Health Education

Charity Orisa-Ubi, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Department of Human Kinetics, Health and Safety Education

Jacinta Obiageli Uwa, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education

Ugoma Deborah Ezeani, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education

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Published

2023-08-02

How to Cite

Iwuagwu, T. E., Kalu, M. O., Orisa-Ubi, C., Uwa, J. O., & Ezeani, U. D. (2023). Attitude towards Illicit Drug Use and Dependency among Senior In-School Adolescents in Nsukka Education Zone, Enugu State. NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROMOTION, 12(1). Retrieved from https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/NJHP/article/view/2151

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Section

NJHP