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

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Drug use among adolescents places a significant threat to the social, health, economic life of the families, society and
the entire nations. The increased use of drug among adolescent globally has brought diverse problems such as
increase in violence and crimes. Therefore, this study examines psychological factors predicting adolescent
involvement in drug use in Ibadan, Oyo state. Nigeria
The study utilized cross-sectional survey design and three hundred and ninety-five participants were randomly
selected from four secondary schools in Ibadan south-east local government with the mean age of 16.7 and standard
deviation 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 at
p<0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that there was inversely significant relationship between involvement
in drug and peer pressure (r =-.165, p<.01), The second results indicated that there was significant joint influence of
peer 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 that
peer 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 about
drug use and give in to pressure from friends will involve in drug use, this result revealed how these factors predicted
jointly involvement in drug use. Therefore, parents, and professionals should put measures in place to reduce
adolescent’s involvement in drug use.
 Keyword: Drug Use, Adolescents, and Psychological Factors,