PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN YABA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Substance abuse among adolescents remains a pressing public health concern in Nigeria, with limited community-based data to inform interventions. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of substance abuse among adolescents aged 10–19 in Yaba Community Development Area of Lagos State using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design from November 2024 to April 2025. Among 286 participants, the mean age was 16.82 years, and over 90% were in-school adolescents. Lifetime prevalence of substance use was 81.1%, with 59.3% reporting use in the past 30 days. Alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis were the most commonly abused substances. Significant predictors of substance abuse included age, gender, educational status, parental education, living arrangement, community of residence, and peer influence (p<0.05). Qualitative findings highlighted peer pressure, curiosity, and community availability as major contributors, with adolescents frequently accessing substances from local shops and gathering in public spaces for consumption. Despite awareness of the risks, many adolescents continued their usage. The study concludes that substance abuse among adolescents in Yaba is alarmingly high, necessitating urgent, targeted community-based interventions, stricter regulation, and peer-focused preventive strategies to curb this growing trend.