ABSTRACT
Introduction: From the beginning of time, drugs have been used in every society as human being search for substance that would sustain and protect them and also act on the nervous system to produce pleasurable sensation, santrock (2005). Undergraduate students are the most susceptible to drug use amongst different youth groups in Nigeria because most of them live outside the watch of their parents or guardian (Adeyemo, Ohaeri, Okpala, Oghale, 2016). These perceived norms motivate the youth to indulge in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol and drug use (Steyl, Phillips, 2011; Deressa, Azazh, 2011). The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year. On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 liters of pure alcohol per year. Less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do drink consume on average 17 liters of pure alcohol annually. At least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders. Injecting drug use reported in 148 countries, of which 120 report HIV infection among this population. (WHO, 2017). The study however assessed the factors influencing substance abuse among undergraduates of Ibadan Polytechnic.
Method: A non-experimental descriptive cross sectional design was adopted, target population for the study were male and female undergraduate students of polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo state. This study adopted simple random sampling and all the halls were used. The sample size was determined using the proportion stated by Cochran’s fomular to arrived at 384 respondents used for the study. A structured questionnaire was used as a tool for obtaining data which was developed after vast literature review. Section A containing questions that elicited the socio demographic data of the respondents. Section B containing questions on level of substance usage. Section C containing questions on reasons for using drugs. Section D containing questions on the influence of peer group on undergraduates.
Results: The study findings showed that age, gender, peer group and family background were among the factors influencing substance abuse.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the study concludes that age, gender, peer group and family background were among the factors influencing substance abuse among undergraduates of Ibadan Polytechnic, Oyo state with Coffee/caffeine being the most consumed drug. It is evidenced that experimental curiosity and easy accessibility to drugs were the reasons for substance abuse.
