Background:
Use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances constitutes major public
health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. The aims of this
study were to determine the prevalence and perceived accessibility of
psychoactive substances. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in
three Nigerian universities with the use of United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) student model questionnaire. Results: Five hundred and forty-nine
students participated. Majority of them were females, 289 (55.2%); Christians,
382 (73.0%); of Yoruba ethnic group, 375 (79.6%), and single, 512 (94.8%).
Their mean age was 20.11 years (sd = 2.36). Stimulants other than the
Amphetamine-types had the highest lifetime prevalence rate (53.4%), followed by
Alcohol (35.8%), tranquilizers (12%), opiates other than Heroin (11.9%) and
cigarettes (11.3%). Among the illicit drugs, marijuana had the highest
prevalence (7.2%). Lifetime prevalence rates of cocaine and heroin use were
both 2.1%. The average age at first use of any of the substances was between 10
and 17 years. The commonest consequences of alcohol use were engaged in sex
regretted the next day (2.5%) and engaged in sex without using condom (2.1%);
while the commonest consequences of drug use
were damages to objects or clothing (1.1%), problems in relationship
with parents (1.0%) and friends (1.0%). Stimulants other than amphetamine-types,
solvents, opiates other than heroin, tranquilizers and cannabis were perceived
as easy to get by 57.3%, 38.7%, 32.8%, 29.4% and 22.7% of the respondents
respectively. For all the substances except Amphetamine-type stimulants, ecstasy and crack, lifetime
drug use was significantly associated with perceived easy accessibility to the
respective substances. Conclusions and Recommendations: Drug use among the
students was associated with relationship problems and unsafe sex. It is also
associated with perceived accessibility of the drugs. Attention needs to be
focused on safe sex practices among the students in addition to drug use
prevention interventions.