Effects of Psycho-Education on Substance Abuse-Literacy among Secondary School Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The increasing rate of substance abuse and its adverse effects on physical and psychosocial health is a public health concern affecting adolescents. Psychoeducation has shown to be an effective treatment intervention in psychotherapy and patient education. This study aimed to assess the effects of psychoeducation on substance abuse-literacy among secondary school students in Nigeria. Methods: A school-based cross sectional quasi-experimental design (pre and post test study) was adopted for this study and conducted in Ogbomoso North local government area. Four hundred (400) questionnaires were distributed for pre-test and post-test assessments of substance abuse literacy after psychoeducation program. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis and results were presented in frequency, percentage and charts, and hypotheses were tested using Chi-Square test and level of significance was at a P<0.05. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of alcohol use was 38.5%, and 46.8% for other types of substances with tramadol being most abused. Peer and parental influences were the major causes of substance abuse. There was significant increase (P=0.000) in the substance abuse literacy as seen in the students’ post-test assessment mean percentage score (78.09%) after psychoeducation program when compared with pre-test assessment mean percentage score (50.78%). Chi-square test of hypotheses showed that psycho- education program had significant effect (P=0.000) on students’ substance abuse literacy. Conclusion: There was significant effect of psychoeducation on substance abuse-literacy among secondary school students.