Temporal Variation of Students’ Drug Abuse in Langtang North Local Government Area, Plateau State - Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the temporal variation of students' drug abuse in Langtang North Local Government Area -LGA, Plateau state -Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was employed for the study with data collected from a sample of 752 students', selected through multi stage sampling procedure from all the secondary schools in Langtang North LGA. The instrument for data collection was investigators' structured ten items questionnaire. Face validation of the instrument was obtained through the judgement of five experts. A reliability index of .84 was obtained through the outcome of pilot testing using split half method. Frequencies, percentages and overall means were utilized to answer the research question while Chi-square statistic was used to test the null hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that overall, a slightly higher proportion of the students' in the morning (40.4%), followed by during dry season (37.6%), in the evening (33.4%), during festive period (29.8%), at weekends (27.8%), and during rainy season (24.2%) moderately abused drugs. The study further revealed that students' drug abuse differed according to temporal variation (Cal χ 2 = 325.873 > χ 2 tab = 12.59, df = 6, p < .05). Following from the findings of the study, it was recommended that the Federal Government and Non-Governmental Organizations should endeavour to sponsor people to review the current intervention programs on drug abuse so as to strengthen measures that will further alter the negative attitudes and practices-related to inappropriate use of drugs that still exist. As the review on the current intervention programme is done; the outcome that is consistent with the current drug abuse trends when implemented ought to improve on the current status quo. As the current intervention programme is implemented and adopted, it will further curtail substance abuse thereby having informed and healthy people that will live devoid of drug abuse in Langtang North, Plateau state and the country at large.