A SURVEY OF AND FACTOR INFLUENCING USE OF SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY, DELTA STATE NIGERIA
MATTHEW OBAINEH OJEZELE
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 11(2): 100-105 ; 2019
ABSTRACT
Medications are said to be abused or misused when taken inappropriately. Addiction and crime are two major consequences of drug abuse. The present study aimed at investigating types and prevalence of medications/drugs abuse among students of Delta State University. Multi-stage systematic sampling technique was used to administer questionnaire to consented students. Four departments were randomly selected from each of the five faculties. Questionnaire was then administered to every 30th student in each department. Results from this study showed that 51% of the respondents were males while 49% were females. A greater proportion of the respondents were between the ages of 21 – 25 years. In the course of the study, 33.3% of the respondents admitted to using drugs for non-medical purposes. Coffee (53.3%) and alcohol (48.6%) were the most abused substances. It is worthy of note that codeine (20%), tramadol (15.7%), marijuana (13.8%), cocaine (5.7%), amphetamine (3.3%) and morphine (2.4%) were also abused by the respondents. Results were presented as frequency and percentages. Of the users, a greater percentage often abused marijuana, cocaine, tramadol, morphine and codeine. Curiosity, peer-influence, frustration and sex drive were the main factors observed as the basis for drug abuse. The present study showed that drug abuse is prevalent in the institution with coffee and alcohol as the most abused. Worthy of note is the abuse of illicit drugs like morphine, cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine. Peer influence, curiosity and enhancement of sexual performance were highlighted as reasons/factors for abuse of drugs. There is a need for early intervention that targets high school and tertiary institution students. There is also a need to enforce the law forbidding the sales of prescription medicines at local medicine retails where licensed practitioners like pharmacy are not present.
Email of correspondence:matlar2002@gmail.com
KEYWORDS: Medicine; Drug Abuse; Students; University; Prescription.