Factors associated with substance use among secondary school adolescents in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Adolescents use substances for various reasons such as for pleasure, stress and anger management. Many factors have been reported to influence adolescent substance use. However, there is paucity of reports from this part of Nigeria.Aim/Objectives: To identify the socio-demographic factors associated with substance use among secondary school adolescents in Gwagwalada Area Council.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire-based, study was carried out in secondary schools among adolescents aged 10 years to 18 years who met the inclusion criteria and after appropriate ethical approval had been obtained.Results: One thousand, one hundred and ninety-six student-filled questionnaires were analysed. The mean age of the students was 14.54 years ± SD 2.28. The students' religion, family structure, residence and type of school were associated with licit substance use while their religion, family structure and residence were associated with illicit substance use (P =<0.05). There was also statistically significant relationships between frequency in participation in religious activities and tobacco use (P = <0.01) and birth order and cocaine and hallucinogen use at P = 0.014 and P = 0.018, respectively.Conclusion and recommendation: Several factors were associated with adolescent substance use in this study. It is recommended that more in-depth studies be done to determine causality.Kewords: Factors, substance use, adolescent, Abuj