Abstract

Demographic Factors such as Locality, Economic, Educational Status and Sexual Behaviour as Predictors of Psychoactive Substance Use among Secondary School Adolescents of Amac Ward, Abuja Nigeria, was examined using the cross-sectional design. The study measured three variables and examined their predictive use of Psychoactive substance among senior secondary school adolescents, the variables studied were locality of rural, urban and suburban, economic status of rich, poor and average, educational status of school dropout, JSCE, and SSCE, and sexual behaviour. Data were collected and analyzed using Univariate Analysis of Variant, One Way Anova and Regression analysis. The findings revealed that, each of the predictor variable of locality had significant relationship with psychoactive substance use [f(34,226)=1.61; p<.05], economic and educational status [f(1,259)=2.28; p<.05], and sexual behaviour [f(1,260)=614.71; p<.05]. It is recommended that, parents and teachers should vet the friends and social circles of the students, as the biggest reason students start using drugs is because their friends utilize peer pressure. Punishment methods which are associated with crisis management approaches which are reactive in their policies and locate the problem in students should be used. Health professionals are to be involved includes social services and family support teams, police, probation, education, and housing authorities, as well as voluntary drug workers. Effective skill program which helps to improve self-esteem, and reduce stress and anxiety such as the educational programme interventions should be employ.

Keywords: Economic Status; Educational Status; Locality; Sexual behaviour; Substance Use