Public Health Research 2016, 6(2): 31-37

DOI: 10.5923/j.phr.20160602.01

Prevalence of Drug Abuse Amongst University

Students in Benin City, Nigeria
Adeyemo Florence O.1,*, Ohaeri Beatrice2, Pat U. Okpala3, Ogodo Oghale4

1
Dept of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
2
Dept of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
3
Dept of Nursing, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
4
Dept of Nursing, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract Drug Abuse is becoming an increasing problem in Nigeria. This study sought to determine the prevalence of
drug abuse among students in a tertiary institution in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey
design. The sample size for this study was 800 students (n=800). Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Three
research questions and one hypothesis was answered. Descriptive statistics and Pearson product moment correlation were
used for data analysis using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results showed that majority of the
respondents were young people within the age group of 20-25 years and a higher proportion of respondents were male
students. This study reveals that 46.6% of the sample respondents have taken drugs for non-medical purposes at least once.
Coffee and alcohol were the most commonly abused drugs. Majority of the respondents agreed that students take drugs as a
result of poor teacher-student relationship, improper parental upbringing, as well as the influence of peer pressure. Results
also revealed that the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between university environment and
drug abuse among UNIBEN students is rejected while the alternate hypothesis is upheld. It is therefore recommended that
Public health intervention aimed at preventing drug use among students should be designed to raise awareness about the
negative effects of drug abuse.
Keywords Prevalence, Drug abuse, Students

beverage is used excessively. Drug abuse may lead to

1. Introduction organized crimes and disruption of normal academic
programmes. It has led to increased secret cult activities in
The prevalence of health-risky behaviors associated with secondary schools and most Nigerian universities, which has
adolescent illicit drug use has attracted growing international been a source of threat to lives and properties (Aluede, 2000).
recognition. Especially in southern Africa, unsafe sexual The impact of drug abuse among Nigerian youths has also
behaviors may have significantly untoward consequences, been associated with the loss of our societal values and ideals
considering the high HIV prevalence estimates from the (Aluede, 2000). Drugs alter the normal biological and
region (Garvin et al., 2006). Unfortunately, adolescents and psychological functioning of the body, especially the central
youth may underrate the harmful effects of unhealthy life nervous system (Melis et al., 2005). Majority of the Nigerian
styles (McMaster and Keshav, 1994). These unpleasant youths ignorantly depend on one form of drug or the other
youthful activities are widespread in Nigeria and all over (such as Tobacco, Indian hemp, cocaine, morphine, Heroine,
Africa, thus giving a lot of concern to the government and Alcohol, ephedrine, Madras, Caffeine, Glue, Barbiturates
general public (Greene, 1980). Drug abuse remains a major and Amphetamines) for their various daily activities
health challenge all over the world (UNODC, 2005). Haladu (Oshikoya and Alli, 2006). Oshikoya and Alli (2006) in their
(2003) describes drug abuse as excessive and persistent studies on perception of drug abuse amongst Nigerian
self-administration of a drug without regard to medically or undergraduates also identified dependence and addiction as
culturally acceptable patterns. Odejide (2000) posited that a one of the major consequence of drug abuse, characterized
drug is said to be abused when its use is not by compulsive drug craving seeking behaviours even in the
pharmacologically necessary especially when it’s used in face of negative consequences. Maithya (2009) revealed that
face of legal prohibition or when socially acceptable the common reasons for drug abuse amongst secondary
school students in Kenya are mostly out of curiosity and
* Corresponding author:
[email protected] (Adeyemo Florence O.)
acceptance by friends (peer pressure). A study by Kiiru
Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/phr (2004) showed that peer pressure was responsible for youths’
Copyright © 2016 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved consumption of drugs for the purpose of stimulating appetite
32 Adeyemo Florence O. et al.: Prevalence of Drug Abuse Amongst University Students in Benin City, Nigeria

for food. university students in Benin?

Ndom and Adelakun (1996) argued that male children 2. What types of drugs are commonly abused by the
from an unstable families were associated with high risk of students?
substance abuse, this argument is supported with clinical 3. What are the factors that influence the consumption of
findings by Nyki (2015) indicates that cannabis abusers are these drugs?
mostly young Nigerian men, including students, who have Hypothesis
been deprived of parental supervision and warmth from
infancy. Awoyinfa (2012) argued that the very high rate of There is no significant relationship between university
alcohol use and abuse among students in secondary and environment and drug abuse amongst university students in
tertiary institutions in Nigeria began from their childhood or Benin City.
early adolescence. Ethical Considerations
At times youth, including students, who hawk for their
Permission for the study was obtained from the ethics
parents, are themselves exposed to substance abuse. Some
committee and authorities of the University of Benin. A
youths will experiment and stop, or continue to use
written informed consent was also gotten from the
occasionally without significant problems. Others will
participants after clear education on the need for the study
develop addiction, moving on to more dangerous drugs and
and their rights to give or refuse consent. All data were
causing significant harm to themselves and the society at
handled with strict confidentiality.
large (Pela, 1989). Despite the effort of many concerned
bodies to curb this menace, many organizations and Research Methodology
individuals still present these drugs as though they are Research design: descriptive survey
harmless which often lure irrational youths into drugs and
alcoholism. Drug use amongst young people should be a Setting of the study: The study was carried out in
matter of concern to all Nigerians especially the government, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state. Benin City is
school heads, the leaders of various religious groups and situated approximately 25 miles North of the Benin river and
other NGOs. This study therefore aimed at establishing the situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos. The university has a
prevalence of drug abuse amongst students in university of population of about 50,000 students comprising of part time,
Benin (UNIBEN). full time and post graduate students.
Research population: The target population for this study
Statement of Problem were male and female from the following four faculties;
The health of young people is a key factor in the basic medical Sciences, Engineering, law and social sciences.
promotion and preservation of the health of the population as This consists of a total population of 7,570 students.
a whole because it determines the overall level of population Sampling technique: Multi-stage sampling technique was
health in the short term (Tsvetkova and Antonova, 2013). used. Four faculties were randomly selected, then four
There seem to be an increasing prevalence of drug abuse departments randomly selected and this was followed by the
amongst adolescents (university students inclusive) despite systematic sampling which involved administering the
the efforts of concerned bodies to curb this menace. questionnaire to every 50th person in each department,
University students are the most susceptible to drug use making a total sample size of 800 students.
amongst different youth groups in Nigeria because most of Instrument for data collection: Questionnaire was used to
them live outside the watch of their parents or guardian. elicit data from the students. The questionnaire had four
Hence, a comprehensive empirical study on the prevalence sections which included the students’ demographic data,
of drug abuse amongst university students in Benin. prevalence of drug abuse, commonly abused drugs and
factors influencing students into drug abuse. These
Objectives of the Study
instruments were self-administered and were pretested
The main objective of this research is to find out the before the commencement of the study.
prevalence of drug abuse amongst university students in Reliability of the study: The department of Arts was used
Benin. for the pilot study, this was considered important because
The specific objectives of the study are as follows to: comments and suggestions by respondents during pre-testing
helped improve the quality of the questionnaire. Test re-test
1. Assess the prevalence of drug abuse amongst
was used for measuring there liability. The reliability value
university students in Benin.
was 0.79
2. Identify types of drugs that are commonly abused.
3. Identify the factors responsible for drug abuse among Procedure for data collection: 8 Research assistants were
the students. recruited from the researcher’s department
Research Questions Method of data analysis: Data was analyzed with
frequency tables and percentages. Pearson product moment
The study attempts to answer the following questions correlation was also used to test the hypothesis by using the
1. What is the prevalence rate of drug abuse amongst the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
 Public Health Research 2016, 6(2): 31-37 33

Ethical consideration: A permit was obtained from the sample while females in the sample were 44.3 per cent as
chairman of research committee, university of Benin and shown in table 3.
informed consent from all respondents. The questionnaires
Table 4. Frequency distribution of students’ level
were clearly explained to the selected students before and
during the process of answering them. Level Frequency Percentage (%)
100 24 3.0
200 144 18.0
2. Results
300 258 32.3
The result from table 1 indicates that four faculties 400 290 36.3
participated in the prevalence of drug abuse among students 500 84 10.5
in university of Benin survey, the four faculties have equal
Total 800 100
number of respondents. The information is presented
graphically in table 2. The respondents (students) are between one hundred (first
Table 1. Frequency distribution of sampled students in each faculty year) and five hundred level (fifth year), but the four hundred
level students (fourth year) formed the bulk of the subjects
Faculty Frequency Percentage (%)
used for the study (36.3%), the group with the smallest
Law 200 25.0 number of participants is one hundred level students (3.0%)
Basic medical sciences 200 25.0 as shown in table 4.
Social science 200 25.0 Table 5. Frequency distribution of students’ age
Engineering 200 25.0
Age Frequency Percentage (%)
Total 800 100
Less than 20 years 175 21.9

Table 2. Frequency distribution of sampled students by departments 20 – 25 years 510 63.8

26years and above 115 14.4
Percentage
Departments Frequency Total 800 100
(%)
Law 200 25.0
A greater proportion of the subjects were between the ages
Medical biochemistry 50 6.3 of 20 – 25 year, followed by those in the age bracket of less
Medical lab science 50 6.3 than 20years while those whose ages were 26years and
Nursing science 50 6.3 above were just (14.4%) as shown in table 5.
Medical physiology 50 6.3 Table 6. Frequency distribution of religious affiliation
Economics & statistics 50 6.3 Religion Frequency Percentage (%)
Political science 50 6.3
Christian 781 97.6
Sociology 50 6.3
Muslim 14 1.8
Geography & Regional planning 50 6.3
Traditional religion 5 0.6
Electrical electronics 50 6.3
Chemical engineering 50 6.3 Majority of the respondents practice Christianity (97.6%),
Mechanical engineering 50 6.3 followed by Muslim (1.8%) and just (0.6%) practice African
traditional religion as shown in table 6.
Computer engineering 50 6.3
Total 800 100
Presentation of results
In this section each of the research questions is re-stated
Thirteen (13) departments were sampled in the study; the and the statistical analysis carried out to answer it. Frequency
department of law had the highest respondents (25.0 %), and percentage was used to answer.
while other department had 6.3 per cent as shown in table 2.
Research question one
Table 3. Frequency distribution of gender
● What is the prevalence rate of drug abuse among
Gender Frequency Percentage (%) students in university of Benin?
Male 446 55.8 To answer this research question the frequency count and
Female 354 44.3 percentage of students’ response was analysed and presented
Total 800 100 in table 8.
Table 7 shows the students response in relation to drug
The compartmentalisation of the gender of respondents abuse, the result reveals that out of eight hundred (800)
show that male students constituted 55.8 per cent of the respondents who participated in the study, three hundred and
34 Adeyemo Florence O. et al.: Prevalence of Drug Abuse Amongst University Students in Benin City, Nigeria

fifty one 351 (43.9%) have taken drugs other than for Results in table 10 reveals that majority of the respondents
medical purpose. 411 (51.4%) have not taken while 38 (4.8%) ticked “no” to items “1 to 5”. Are these drugs in readily
students did not respond to the item. Therefore 46.6% of the available in the school? (55.5%); Have you been taken drugs
sample respondents have at one time or the other used drugs before gaining admission into the university? (71.9%); did
for non-medical purposes. you start taking drugs when you gained entry (admission)
into the university? (79.6%); has the university environment
Table 7. Prevalence rate of drug abuse
influenced you in the use of drugs? (79.9%) and is drug
Question Yes No
No abuse common in your faculty? (72.1%). The large number
response of persons who disagreed to the items show that accessibility
Have you ever used drugs 351 411
38 (4.8%)* to drug is low within the school environment. This implies
for non-medical purposes (43.9%) (51.4%) that the rate of drug abuse among UNIBEN students is high.
*figures in parenthesis are in parentages Furthermore table 9 reveals the drugs commonly abused by
students.
Result in table 8 reveals that majority of the respondents
(82.0%) did not respond to the item measuring the duration Research question two
of drug abuse, 77.08% of respondents who responded to the ● Which types of drugs are commonly abused by the
item have been taking drug for less than four years, while students?
12.5% have taken drug more than four to five years and only To answer this research question the frequency count and
10.41% have taken drug more than six years and above. The percentage of students’ response was analysed and presented
large percentage of respondents who have taken drug less in table 8.
than four years could be subjects with a four year academic Table 12 reveals that out of the eight (8) commonly abused
programme on the average. substance/drugs, the rate of abuse varies. Students seem to
Result in table 9 shows that majority of the respondents abuse the following type of drugs respectively: Coffee 294
disagreed to item “1 and 3”. “Is any member of your family a (36.8%); Alcohol 237 (29.6%); Spirit 237 (29.6%); Kola nut
drug abuser?” (69.1%), Have you engaged in illegal 128 (16.0%); Cigarette 103 (12.9); tobacco 84 (10.5%);
activities to obtain any drugs? (82.9%) while 59.6% agreed Marijuana (Weed) 78 (9.8%) and Cocaine 52 (6.5%). The
to “item 2” Do you feel normal /okay when some drugs are result presented is from a sample of 800 students, but only
not at your reach? This implies that the factors that instigate 300 students responded to the items while about 500 students
students to take drugs are external or environmental, coupled did not tick so show their agreement or disagreement.
with ease of access.
Table 8. Shows duration of drug abuse by the students: Frequency and percentages were used to answer this research question

Duration of drug abuse Less than four years Four to five years Six years and above No response

For how long have you been using the drugs? 111 (13.9%) 18 (2.3%) 15 (1.9%) 656 (82.0%)

Table 9. Showing factors that instigate drug consumption

s/n Statement Yes No No response

1 Is any member of your family a drug abuser? 214 (26.8%) 553 (69.1%) 33 (4.1%)

2 Do you feel normal/okay when some drugs are not at your reach? 477 (59.6%) 250 (31.3%) 73 (9.1%)

3 Have you engaged in illegal activities to obtain any drugs? 103 (12.9%) 663 (82.9%) 34 (4.3%)

Frequency and percentage will be used to explain this research questions.

Table 10. Students accessibility to drug

s/n Yes No No response

1 Are these drugs in readily available in the school? 286 (35.8%) 444 (55.5%) 70 (8.8%)

Have you been taken drugs before gaining

2 178 (22.3%) 575 (71.9%) 47 (5.9%)
admission into the university?

Did you start taking drugs after you gained entry

3 114 (14.3%) 637 (79.6%) 49 (6.1%)
(admission) into the university?

Has the university environment influenced you in

4 109 (13.6%) 639 (79.9%) 52 (6.5%)
the use of drugs?

5 Is drug abuse common in your faculty? 166 (20.8%) 577 (72.1%) 57 (7.1%)
 Public Health Research 2016, 6(2): 31-37 35

Table 11. Frequency of commonly abused drugs among the university students

Substances Yes No No response

Coffee 294 (36.8%) 3 (0.4%) 503 (62.9%)
Alcohol 237 (29.6%) 5 (0.6%) 558 (69.8%)
Cigarette 103 (12.9%) 12 (1.5%) 685 (85.6%)
Marijuana(Weed) 78 (9.8%) 12 (1.5%) 710 (92.0%)
Cocaine 52 (6.5%) 12 (1.5%) 736 (92.0%)
Kola nut 128 (16.0%) 7 (0.9%) 665 (83.1%)
Tobacco 84 (10.5%) 12 (1.5%) 704 (88.0%)
Spirit 237 (29.6%) - 563 (704%)
Others(specify) - - -

Table 12. Frequency of factors influencing drug consumption among the university students

NO
STATEMENT (FACTORS) SA A D SD
RESPONSE
Students take drugs to increase intelligence 118 (14.8%) 205 (25.6%) 259 (32.4%) 173 (21.6%) 45 (5.6%)
Most students take drugs out of curiosity 198 (24.8%) 358 (44.8%) 173 (21.6%) 34 (4.3%) 37 (4.6%)
People abuse drugs because they have a lot of pocket money 86 (10.8%) 246 (30.8%) 296 (37.0%) 120 (15.0%) 52 (6.5%)
The availability of drugs can lead to its abuse 293 (36.6%) 297 (37.1%) 139 (17.4%) 25 (3.1%) 46 (5.8%)
Poor teachers/parental example and upbringing could be a
355 (44.4%) 338 (42.3%) 41 (5.1%) 22 (2.8%) 44 (5.5%)
cause to make students abuse drugs
Peer group/peer pressure is capable of influencing student
461 (57.6%) 217 (27.1%) 57 (7.1%) 21 (2.6%) 44 (5.5%)
into taking of drugs
Students take drugs out of frustration 223 (27.9%) 312 (39.0%) 156 (19.5%) 58 (7.3%) 51 (6.4%)

Table 13. Frequency of “peer influence amongst the students in the consumption of drugs?”

Substances Always Occasionally Never No response

Coffee 262 (32.8%) 273 (34.1%) 67 (8.4%) 198 (24.8%)
Alcohol 263 (32.9%) 270 (33.8%) 109 (13.6%) 158 (19.8%)
Cigarette 310 (26.3%) 246 (30.8%) 127 (15.9%) 217 (27.1%)
Marijuana(Weed) 165 (20.6%) 253 (31.6%) % 158 (19.8%) 224 (28.0%)
Cocaine 130 (16.3%) 249 (31.1%) 180 (22.5) % 241 (30.1%)
Kola nut 159 (19.9%) 252 (31.5% ) 164 (20.5%) 225 (28.1%)
Tobacco 159 (19.9%) 220 (27.5%) 161 (20.1%) 260 (32.5%)
Spirit 109 (13.6%) 177 (22.1%) 139 (7.4%) 375 (46.9%)
Others(specify) - - - -

Research question three (84.7%) and Students take drugs out of frustration “535”
(66.9%).
● What are the factors that influence students into taking
The respondents sampled showed disagreement (SD & D)
of these drugs? To answer this research question the
to the following items: students abuse drugs to increase
frequency count and percentage of students’ response
intelligence“432” (54.0%), People abuse drugs because they
was analyzed and presented in table 12.
have a lot of pocket money“416” (52.0%). In furtherance,
Table 12 reveals the factors influencing drug abuse among Table 13 explains peer influence on drug abuse among the
the university students. Students seem to show agreement university students.
(SA & A ) to the following as potent factors in drug abuse Table 13 reveals students response in relation to peer
amongst the university students: Most students take drugs influence on drug use and types of drug. Majority of the
out of curiosity “556” (69.6%), The availability of drugs can respondents agreed that (always or occasionally) friends
lead to its abuse “590” (73.7%), Poor teachers/parental encourage them to take: Coffee 535(66.9%); Alcohol 533
example/ improper upbringing could be a factor in students (66.7%); Cigarette 344 (57.1%); Marijuana (weed) 418
abuse drugs “693” (86.7%), Peer group/peer pressure is (52.2%) and Kola nut 411 (51.4%).
capable of influencing student into taking of drugs“678” Majority of the students seem to show disagreement
36 Adeyemo Florence O. et al.: Prevalence of Drug Abuse Amongst University Students in Benin City, Nigeria

(never or no response) to the taking of the following drug also showed that 7 out of 10 undergraduate students had
type: Cocaine 421 (52.6%), Tobacco 421 (56.2%) and Spirit used drugs in the past [the commonest was alcohol (58%)].
514 (54.3%). Coffee and alcohol were the most commonly abused drugs
(36.8%) and (29.6%) respectively, this is however consistent
with finding from advisory council on the misuse of drugs
3. Hypothesis (2006) that says alcohol is the most popular drug misused by
young people. Only very few respondents abuse cocaine
There is no significant relationship between university (6.5%), this is similar to the finding by Adelekan (1999) who
environment and drug abuse among the university students. showed that the consumption of cocaine amongst youths in
The independent variable in this hypothesis is university rural area was quite low.
environment while the dependent variable is drug abuse, The study explained that majority of respondents did not
Pearson product moment was used to analyse the data respond to this question, but 77.08% of respondents who
collected and presented in table 14. responded to the item have been taking drug for less than
Table 14. Pearson product moment correlation between university four years. This is in line with the study conducted by the
environment and drug abuse National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Andrews et al.,
Variable N Mean SD r-value Sig. 2001) which revealed that more than half of the students in
University
the U.S tried an illegal drug before they graduated from high
800 15.82 3.31 0.713 .000 school.
environment (x)
Drug abuse (y) 800 18.04 4.55
Majority of the respondents agreed that students take
drugs as a result of poor teacher/ parental upbringing and
*significant at 0.05 level; df = 798; critical r-value = 0.170 also the influence of peer pressure, this correlates with
The result in table 14 reveals that the calculated r – value studies conducted by Maithya (2009) and Kiiru (2004) which
of 0.713* is greater than the critical r-value of 0.170 at .05 showed that some students take drugs as a result of poor
level of significance with 798 degree of freedom with this teacher/parental role modelling and influence of peer
result, the null hypothesis which states that there is no pressure respectively.
significant relationship between university environment and Lastly, result also revealed that the null hypothesis which
drug abuse among the university students is rejected while states that there is no significant relationship between
the alternate hypothesis is upheld. university environment and drug abuse amongst university
students in Benin is rejected while the alternate hypothesis is
upheld. This implies that, there is significant relationship
4. Discussion of Findings between university environment and drug abuse amongst the
university students especially those residents in the school
Eight hundred students from four faculties and sixteen hostels.
departments (four departments in each faculty) were
randomly selected to participate in this study. Majority of the
respondents are Christians followed by Muslim and African 5. Conclusions
traditional religion respectively. Majority of the respondents
The study shows that an average number of students
were young people within the age group of 20-25 years
(43.9%) in University of Benin were exposed to drugs.
which is in line with the findings of Nevadomsky (1985) and
Alcohol and coffee were the most commonly abused drugs
in contrast with findings from the study conducted by Otiena
and the least was cocaine. There is an increasing trend in
(2009) and Odejide (2000) which reported mean age of most
Nigeria and other developing countries. Also students have
respondents (drug abusers) to be about 18 years respectively.
difficulties stopping habitual use of alcohol. Most students
The study also revealed that a higher proportion of
abuse drugs as a result of poor teacher/parental upbringing
respondents were male students and this suggests that the
and also the influence of peer pressure. There is need for
compulsive use of drugs is associated majorly with male
early intervention that targets tertiary school students. More
gender which is in line with the study of Enakpoya (2009).
students should be made to develop drug abuse prevention
The gender differences in drug abuse are said to have their
strategies that target students at high risk. Appropriate
foundation in the very first stage of drug involvement and the
intervention, health education efforts, support and referral
opportunity to use the drugs. If given the opportunity to use
system should be established in tertiary institution to help
the drugs, male and female are equally likely to use them
curb this habit and counseling programmes be incorporated
(Anthony et al., 1999).
into the Universities health care system (Kiiru, 2004).
The result of this study further reveals that 43.9% of the
sample respondents have in one time taken drugs for reasons
other than for medical purposes which is an upsurge as 6. Recommendations
compared to the study conducted by Maithya (2009) which
showed that 29.6% students reported drug use other than for The following recommendations were made on the basis
medical purposes. Singh and Singh (1979) in their findings of the findings of this study:
 Public Health Research 2016, 6(2): 31-37 37

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