Evaluation of Factors Influencing Drug and Substance Abuse among Tertiary Institution Students in Nigeria

A Chi-Square Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Around the globe, drug abuse is a notable public health menace. This study evaluates causative factors to abuse of drug and substance among 382 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, through administration of questionnaires. Descriptive statistics of the respondent were obtained and various causative factors of abuse of drugs among students were examined. Major factors considered in the study are respondents’ age group, parents’ abuse of drugs, and abuse of drugs among respondents’ friends. Chi-square analysis was employed to determine if there are significant relationships between each considered factor and the different types of drugs being abused. Findings reveal that there is significant relationship between each of the factors and drug types as all Chi-square (χ²) p-values give (0.000) at 5% level of significance. Finally, the study reveals that the most prevalent reason for abuse of drugs and substances among students is parental failure which takes 48.2% of the total response with overall Chi-square p-values (χ² = 0.000) at 5% level of significance.