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Many young people drink alcohol – whether out of curiosity, ignorance, peer pressure, or other reasons. It is a major public health problem.
The consequences of alcohol consumption can be physical, social and academic. Young people can put themselves at risk for injuries, accidents, health problems, relationship problems and poor academic performance. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of using other substances and developing related disorders. For young people, it is linked to mental health disorders in old age and in old age.
In most parts of Nigeria, there is very little control over the sale and distribution of alcohol. It comes in a small, portable package and people of all ages can purchase it. It is not uncommon for bars to be located near schools.
According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria ranks second on the list of African countries for episodic binge drinking. Scholarly sources have supported this claim. But reports on the prevalence of alcohol consumption among the Nigerian university student body show conflicting results. They are difficult to compare because the studies used difference methods and samples, in different places and times. They also looked at the contribution of different psychological factors. This makes it more difficult to use studies to guide interventions against harmful alcohol use.
For this reason, we interviewed a large sample of university students in six Nigerian regions. We wanted to know what the prevalence of alcohol use among students was and how it differed by gender, age and location. We also looked at how alcohol use was linked to three psychological factors: self-efficacy, which refers to the belief or perceived confidence that a person has in their ability to deal effectively with challenges, in particular in a situation that can put them at risk of mental stress, depression. and the purpose of life.
We found that about a third of respondents were alcohol users and about 9% were dependent on it. The pattern of alcohol consumption differed considerably across age groups and locations. And students who felt unable to meet the challenges of their lives were more likely to drink.
These findings prompt universities to pay close attention to the emotional challenges of students and to ensure that counseling and prevention programs are available to them.
Alcohol use among Nigerian university students
We conducted our survey at six Nigerian federal universities, spread across the six regions. We collected data from a sample of 1,173 students using a structured questionnaire.
We found that about a third (31.4%) of respondents had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. About 16.8% of the students in our survey drank alcohol at a safe level, while about 14.6% drank in a way that endangers their health and well-being, for example by being drunk repeatedly or by engaging in risky behavior. under the influence of alcohol.
Our results raised concern about the high rate of alcohol consumption among Nigerian university students. People sit and drink bottled beer at a makeshift restaurant in Makurdi, Nigeria. Kola Sulaimon / AFP / Getty Images
The rate of alcohol consumption differed considerably between geographic locations. Alcohol consumption was more predominant among students in the North East and South South region. Less alcohol consumption was reported in the North West and South West. A likely explanation for this difference lies in socio-cultural and religious factors and ease of access to alcohol. Alcohol is banned in the central northwestern part for Islamic religious reasons, but it is generally culturally acceptable and available in the south-south region.
There was no significant difference in the rate of alcohol consumption reported by college students. Unlike previous studies which reported that men drank more alcohol than women, we found evidence of an increasing rate of alcohol consumption among female college students.
We also found a significant relationship between age and alcohol consumption. Students aged 19 reported more alcohol consumption than those aged 16 to 18. However, youth aged 16 to 18 reported a higher level of problem drinking than older students aged 19 and over. For example, the level of dependent alcohol consumption, which involves consuming alcohol to the point of not being able to function properly except on alcohol, was higher in younger students. 9.4% of younger students indulged in alcohol use problems, compared to 7% of older students.
Students who reported symptoms of depression, and students who reported seeing their life as lacking in meaning or purpose, reported a higher level of alcohol use than students who did not report these. psychological problems. This was also the case for students who reported low self-efficacy, that is, a feeling of being unable to deal with personal issues and life challenges. Our results suggest that alcohol consumption among the student body is linked to mental health problems. It appears that alcohol is being used as a coping strategy.
Conclusion
Our results show that it is important to identify and help students with mental health problems. We recommend that the Nigerian University Authority strengthen health services for students. The system should target students who need mental health assessments and interventions. This would result in a reduction in the use of alcohol and drugs as a way to cope.
In addition, we recommend that all relevant stakeholders, including government agencies such as the National Drug Enforcement Agency, address alcohol consumption issues among students. Although alcohol is a legal substance, its use is associated with a range of harmful consequences.
Samson Femi Agberotimi is not working, consulting, owning stock or receiving funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has not disclosed any relevant affiliation beyond his academic appointment.
By Samson Femi Agberotimi, Postdoctoral Fellow, North West University
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