Idris S H, Sambo M N
Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Niger J Med. 2009 Jul-Sep;18(3):291-4. doi: 10.4314/njm.v18i3.51191.
Psycho-active substances have been used by various societies since the dawn of civilization, and still remain a major public health concern in the 21st century. Evidence has shown that in the last 2 decades in Nigeria, adolescents are a major group involved in the use of psychoactive substances. The study was carried out to determine pattern of use and the push factors for such use among in school adolescents in Zaria, Nigeria.
The study was cross sectional descriptive in design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to interview 280 respondents using self administered, structured and pre tested questionnaires. Data was analyzed manually and chi-square test statistic was used to test for significance of association between categorical variables at p value of < 0.05.
A total of 280 respondents, 195 (69.6%) males and 85 (30.4%) females senior secondary school adolescent were interviewed. The study shows that 157 (56%) use one or more substance or the other. The commonest ones are kola nut followed by cigarette and marijuana. The commonest push factor for use is to experiment (54%). The study also shows, statistically significant relationship between family background and psychoactive substance use (chi2 = 21.57, df = 2 p < 0.05), there was however no statistical significance between age, class of the students and substance use respectively (chi2 = 1.94, df = 2 p > 0.05) (chi2 = 0.97, df = 2p > 0.05).
The prevalence of psychoactive substances use is unacceptably high and the main trigger identified was the process of experimentation in order to discover their effects. There is the need to institutionalize preventive strategies against substance abuse in our secondary schools. Further studies in this area are also recommended.
自文明诞生以来，各种社会群体都曾使用过精神活性物质，在21世纪，这仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题。有证据表明，在过去20年里，尼日利亚的青少年是使用精神活性物质的主要群体。本研究旨在确定尼日利亚扎里亚在校青少年的使用模式及其使用的推动因素。
本研究采用横断面描述性设计。采用多阶段抽样技术，使用自行填写、结构化且经过预测试的问卷对280名受访者进行访谈。数据采用人工分析，卡方检验统计量用于检验分类变量之间关联的显著性，p值<0.05。
共访谈了280名受访者，其中195名（69.6%）为男性，85名（30.4%）为高中青少年女性。研究表明，157名（56%）使用一种或多种物质。最常见的是可乐果，其次是香烟和大麻。最常见的使用推动因素是尝试（54%）。研究还表明，家庭背景与精神活性物质使用之间存在统计学显著关系（卡方=21.57，自由度=2，p<0.05），然而，年龄、学生年级与物质使用之间分别不存在统计学显著关系（卡方=1.94，自由度=2，p>0.05）（卡方=0.97，自由度=2，p>0.05）。
精神活性物质的使用率高得令人无法接受，主要触发因素是为了发现其效果而进行的尝试过程。有必要将针对药物滥用的预防策略制度化到我们的中学。还建议在该领域进行进一步研究。
