HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE PREVALENCE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: PSU is both a chronic clinical condition and a complex social phenomenon, often following a lifelong course if not adequately addressed, with initiation commonly occurring during early adolescence. PSU reflects the dynamic interaction between human vulnerability, social environments, and broader ecological and policy contexts, making it a multisectoral concern rather than a purely individual health issue. Age plays a critical role in the distribution and patterns of psychoactive substance use, with distinct trajectories observed across different substances. Against this backdrop, the present study focused on the Health Implications of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Prevalence Among Secondary School Adolescents in Sokoto Metropolis.

METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-three respondents were recruited through multi-stages sampling technique. Data were collected using an adapted socio-demographic questionnaire and MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I. KID Version 5) were used via the online Open Data Kit (ODK). The collated data was analyzed using SPSS 25 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25). 

RESULTS: None of the respondents reported past year use of alcohol, while 21.9 percent use other psychoactive substances in the past year. The prevalence of dependence use disorder of psychoactive substances was three per cent, while abuse was four per cent.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that there is high past-year prevalence of non-alcohol substance use, very low percentage of substance abuse and substance dependence respectively. Alcohol use, abuse, and dependence were notably absent among all respondents.