Prevalence, Patterns and Predictors of Substance Abuse among Adolescents in Egbeda Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

Substance use among adolescents has emerged as a major public health concern in Nigeria, with peers, family, and community contexts identified as significant risk factors. This study examined the prevalence and pattern of substance use, and the psychosocial predictors influencing adolescent use in Egbeda Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected from 72 adolescents using snowball sampling. Standardised instruments assessed substance use, peer influence, family substance use history, and exposure to community drug availability. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, including independent sample t-tests and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that alcohol was the most commonly used substance, with 38.9% reporting lifetime use and 22.2% current use, followed by tobacco (26.4% lifetime; 16.7% current). Independent analyses showed that adolescents with high peer substance use (M = 4.1), family history (M = 3.9), and high community exposure (M = 4.0) scored significantly higher on substance use compared to their counterparts (all p < .01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that peer, family, and community factors jointly explained 48% of the variance in adolescent substance use (R² = .48, Adjusted R² = .46, F(3, 68) = 21.76, p < .001). Relative contributions showed that peer influence was the strongest predictor (β = .42), followed by family history (β = .31) and community exposure (β = .28). The study concludes that adolescent substance use in Egbeda Local Government Area is shaped by a combination of peer, family, and community factors, with peer influence being the most influential. Interventions should adopt a multilevel approach that targets peer groups, family systems, and community environments to effectively reduce substance use among adolescents. Further longitudinal research is recommended to explore causal pathways and assess intervention efficacy over time.