Prevalence and Determinants of Substance Use Among Youths in a Tertiary Institution in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Substance use is a growing pandemic that is ravaging the youth at an alarming rate. The study aims to investigate the prevalence and determinants of substance use among youths in a tertiary institution in Ekiti State, Nigeria. An institutional-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, sampling a total of 480 undergraduate students. A pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was adapted from the literatures. All data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Multi-level data analysis was conducted with a clear progression from univariate, bivariate to multivariate analysis, with p-value set at P<0.05. The lifetime prevalence of substance use was 361 (78.5%). The three commonest substances used were alcohol (98.1%), cannabis (17.5%) and tobacco products (16.3%). The three factors that were significant predictors associated with substance use among the youths include the male sex (OR=2.2; 95% CI=1.02-4.13; P 0.044 ), age (OR=14.11; 95% CI=1.45-133.88; P 0.022 ), and peers and roommates’ use of psychoactive substances (OR = 19.58: 95 CI = 4.95-77.50); P 0.000 ). The prevalence of substance use among the students in a tertiary institution in Ekiti State was high. The significant predictors of high prevalence of substance used were the male sex, age, and peers and roommate’s use of substance. There is a need for appropriate authorities to use the informed targeted intervention through the identified risk factors to stem the tide before it ravages our youth.