Destiny Ebimie Anomietei & Irene Ifitumi Mukeh
Abstract
This study, guided by four research questions, examined drug and alcohol usage among undergraduate students in Rivers State, Nigeria and the implications for counselling. The study was a cross sectional descriptive study. 105 undergraduate students were sampled randomly from two universities. The instrument for data collection was a 40-item, four point likert scale questionnaire titled “Drug and Alcohol Usage by Undergraduate Students Inventory (DAUUSI); it had a reliability coefficient of 0.79. Data analysis was done using mean and standard deviation. The study revealed, that marijuana, cigarette, caffeine, alcohol and tramadol were the major drugs and alcohol used by undergraduates in Rivers State; that students use drugs and alcohol to enable them blend and be accepted by their peers and friends, have fun and enjoy life, and to imitate what they see in movies and on social media; that drugs and alcohol use helps to reduce examination stress, but increases the risk of involvement in cult activities as well as poor academic performance among others. On the basis of these findings, some implications for counselling were highlighted. It was recommended, among others, that the effects of drugs and alcohol consumption should be made known to undergraduates through enlightenment programmes.