Influence of substance abuse on delinquent behaviours among secondary school students in Dutsin-ma local government area Katsina state, Nigeria

Purpose: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between substance abuse and delinquent behaviour among secondary school students in Dutsin-Ma LGA, Katsina State. Methodology: Three hundred and eighty-one (381) students were send as sample from three public schools in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area Katsina State. The data collected was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and t-test Statistical analysis was used to analyze the data collected. Substance Abuse Questionnaire (SAQ) and Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire were Constructed and used in the data collection. The instruments was validated by educational experts while the Substance Abuse Questionnaire (SAQ) have reliability index of 0.81 and Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) have reliability index of 0.76 respectively. Results: The findings on substance abuse and delinquent behaviour revealed that r-value is 0.596 and P-value (0.000 <0.5). Therefore, indicated that there was moderate positive relationship between substance abuse and delinquent behaviour among Secondary School Students. On substance abuse, delinquent behaviour and gender, the result showed that p-value of 0.044 is less than 0.05 level of significance at 380 degrees of freedom indicating that there is a significant relationship between substance abuse and delinquent behaviour on the gender basis. On class level, the result revealed that p-value of 0.008 is less than 0.05 level of significance indicating that there is a significant relationship between substance abuse and delinquent behaviour. Conclusion: The researchers therefore recommended that parents, school, society and government should joint hand in the supervision, monitoring, and guiding students both at home, school and on the streets as well as checkmating their associates and whereabouts