PSYCHOACTIVE

This study examined the prevalence and pattern of psychoactive substance use among secondary school students in Benin Metropolitan Area, Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The target population consisted of senior secondary school students from selected public secondary schools, with a sample size of 331 respondents selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among the respondents was 15.4%, while the majority (84.6%) reported no history of substance use. The most commonly used substances identified were tramadol (6.3%), alcohol (6.0%), and codeine (3.0%). In terms of usage pattern, a higher proportion of students reported occasional use (6.3%), while others used substances daily or weekly (4.5% each). The study also showed that substances were mainly obtained from friends, schoolmates, and street vendors. The study concluded that psychoactive substance use exists among secondary school students in Benin Metropolis, with identifiable patterns and influencing factors. It is therefore recommended that schools, families, and government agencies strengthen preventive strategies through health education, counseling services, and stricter control of substance accessibility among adolescents.