Situation of use and factors associated with psychoactive substances use among undergraduates of the College of Medicine University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine the patterns of use of psychoactive substances, identify the psychoactive substances commonly used, and identify the factors associated with the use of psychoactive substances
among undergraduate students
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-developed and self-structured questionnaire to elicit information from 355 undergraduate students from the College of Medicine University of Lagos through a multistage
sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, and a statistically significant p-value was set at <0.05.
Results: A proportion above half, 160 (53%) of the respondents are male, with the mean age of participants being 21.50 ± 2.02 years. Less than one-tenth 26 (8.6%) of the undergraduates always use psychoactive substances during examination preparation, while the majority, 255 (84.4%), reported low level of psychoactive substance use. The most used psychoactive substance is caffeine, as seen in coffee and energy drinks. The quest to improve mental alertness 285 (94.4%) is the leading factor influencing the use of psychoactive substances.
Age (p<0.000) and academic performance (p<0.000) were significantly associated with the level of use of psychoactive substances.
Conclusion: The use of psychoactive substances to improve mental alertness must be discouraged among undergraduate students. Emphasis must be placed on the harmful effects] the use of psychoactive substances can cause now and even in the future.