Emotional insecurity, social support, and drug use in a Nigerian university: A mixed methods study involving students and lecturers

The study examined how emotional insecurity and social support correlate with drug use among university students in Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods approach and purposive sampling, the research involved 513 participants: 486 students (221 males and 265 females) and 27 lecturers (21 males and 6 females). The quantitative data were analysed using linear regression and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, while the qualitative data were explored through thematic analysis. The findings revealed a significant association between social support and drug use; students with limited social support reported higher levels of drug use, while those with strong social support reported lower levels. Emotional insecurity was also found to have an independent correlation with drug use. Qualitative results showed that lecturers were hesitant to implement drug policies due to concerns about potential harm and security risks. They often associate students drug use with campus secret cults, leading to a reluctance to engage in their personal lives to minimise risks. The study suggests that enhancing social support through restorative justice models offers a more inclusive and efficient approach to addressing drug issues compared to repressive strategies that are less effective as deterrents.