Dr Usman Bakari, Dr Aminu Sani, Dr Ahmad Baba Muhammad & Mustapha Halima Lawan
Abstract
The study examined the effect of cognitive restructuring techniques on attitudes towards substance abuse among secondary school students in Adamawa state, Nigeria. It determined the effect of cognitive restructuring on changing physical, cognitive, and emotional attitudes of drug abusers according to gender. Quasi-experimental design of pre/post-test was used in the study. The population of the study was 210 senior secondary school students in Yola metropolis. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 50 participants for the experimental and control groups. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.89. The experimental group was subjected to cognitive restructuring sessions, while the control group received a placebo treatment. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed in testing the six null hypotheses in the study. The results revealed, among others, that cognitive restructuring techniques were effective in changing students’ behavioural, cognitive, and emotional attitudes toward substance abuse in Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State. It was recommended that psychologists should use cognitive restructuring techniques in changing attitudes toward drug abuse among secondary school students. Encourage those who have undergone Cognitive Restructuring to mentor and support their peers who may be struggling with substance abuse attitudes.