Effectiveness of Counselling Interventions in Preventing Substance Abuse Among Adolescents in Ibadan North Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

Substance abuse among adolescents remains a major public health, educational and social concern in Nigeria specifically Ibadan North local government, Oyo state because initiation often occurs during a developmental period characterised by heightened peer influence, experimentation and incomplete self regulation. The study was anchored on Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change. A quantitative survey design was adopted. Using snowball sampling, 300 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years who had been exposed to school or community based counselling services were approached, of whom 270 returned valid questionnaires, representing a 90% response rate. Data were collected using a structured four point Likert questionnaire and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation and simple linear regression at the .05 significance level. Findings showed that individual counselling and motivational support strengthened substance use knowledge, trigger recognition and refusal self efficacy, with a weighted mean of 3.27 and standard deviation of 0.66. Individual counselling and motivational support significantly influenced substance abuse prevention outcomes, F(1, 268) = 221.05, p < .001, with a unit increase in individual counselling and motivational support increasing prevention outcome scores by .684 units (Beta = .672, t = 14.868, p < .001). Group and peer counselling was also positively rated, with a weighted mean of 3.20 and standard deviation of 0.67, and significantly influenced substance abuse prevention outcomes, F(1, 268) = 177.18, p < .001. A unit increase in group and peer counselling increased prevention outcome scores by .615 units (Beta = .631, t = 13.311, p < .001). Family and school integrated counselling recorded the highest overall perception, with a weighted mean of 3.30 and standard deviation of 0.68, and significantly influenced substance abuse prevention outcomes, F(1, 268) = 285.72, p < .001. A unit increase in family and school integrated counselling increased prevention outcome scores by .742 units (Beta = .718, t = 16.903, p < .001). The study concludes that counselling constitutes an important component of adolescent substance abuse prevention when it is continuous, confidential, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive and supported by families, peers and schools. It recommends strengthening school counselling systems, structured peer counselling programmes, early screening and referral, family engagement and periodic evaluation of behavioural outcomes rather than reliance on awareness alone.