PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS PREDICTING ADOLESCENTS INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG USE IN IBADAN SOUTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACTDrug use among adolescents places a significant threat to the social, health, economic life of the families, society andthe entire nations. The increased use of drug among adolescent globally has brought diverse problems such asincrease in violence and crimes. Therefore, this study examines psychological factors predicting adolescentinvolvement in drug use in Ibadan, Oyo state. NigeriaThe study utilized cross-sectional survey design and three hundred and ninety-five participants were randomlyselected from four secondary schools in Ibadan south-east local government with the mean age of 16.7 and standarddeviation of 1.09. Data were collected using a 60-item structured questionnaire with five scales.Three hypotheses were tested using zero-order correlation, multiple regression analysis, and stepwise regressions atp<0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that there was inversely significant relationship between involvementin drug and peer pressure (r =-.165, p<.01), The second results indicated that there was significant joint influence ofpeer pressure, risk propensity, self control and functional belief on involvement in drug use [F(4,390) =3.487, R2 =.035; p<.05] with the variables accounting for 4% of the variance in involvement in drug use. Further results show thatpeer pressure (β=-.183; p<.05) significantly independently predicted involvement in drug use.The result showed that adolescent who lack self control, have high propensity for risk, hold a beneficial belief aboutdrug use and give in to pressure from friends will involve in drug use, this result revealed how these factors predictedjointly involvement in drug use. Therefore, parents, and professionals should put measures in place to reduceadolescent’s involvement in drug use. Keyword: Drug Use, Adolescents, and Psychological Factors,