PERCEIVED HEALTH EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN SELECTED SLUM AREAS OF YENAGOA IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA
Loveday Ebiowei and *Best Ordinioha
Drug abuse among youths in slum communities represents a growing public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas such as Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. This study assessed the perceived health effects of drug abuse among young adults in selected slum areas of Yenagoa. An analytical cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 424 young adults aged 18-35 years selected through purposive sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, while Chi-square test was used to test the study hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed respondents demonstrated high awareness of psychological effects such as anxiety (mean = 4.94), mood disorders (mean = 4.02), and concentration problems (mean = 4.14). Similarly, strong agreement was observed regarding social effects, including crime involvement (mean = 4.82) and social isolation (mean = 4.03), as well as physical health effects such as chronic diseases (mean = 4.82) and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases (mean = 4.80). The study concludes that drug abuse among youths in Yenagoa slums is highly prevalent despite strong awareness of its harmful consequences. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive interventions integrating health education, and accessible rehabilitation services to reduce substance abuse among vulnerable youths.
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