Factors Influencing Hard Drug Use Amongst Undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated factors influencing hard drug use amongst undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The study objectives examined forms of hard drugs among undergraduate students, factors, consequences, and measures required to curb hard drug use among undergraduate students. Five theories were reviewed namely, social structure theory, Marxian theory, differential association theory, social learning theory and labelling theory. Differential association theory and Marxian theory were adopted as the theoretical framework. The study used mixed methods research design for data collection and analysis. A sample size of 204 respondents was used. The quantitative data collected were processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, simple percentages, and charts, while the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic method of data analysis using Nvivo (Version 2.0) software. Two hypotheses were tested using the Chi–square ( ) test statistic. Results found amongst others that codeine and tramadol are the major drugs abused by  undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and peer pressure is found to be the major factor influencing the abuse of these hard drugs. The study therefore recommends among other things, that there is need for a more robust awareness creation on the dangers inherent in hard drug use by the undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.