Students of Tertiary Institutions’ Awareness of Psychosocial Problems Associated with Substance use Disorders; Implication for Psychosocial Support and Counselling

The study adopted quasi experimental research design; the target population for the study was students of tertiary institutions (university); students who were reportedly placed on counselling probation for at least six weeks, at the Counselling Unit of Federal University Lokoja, (for various level of involvement in drug use, substance addiction/ over dependent in alcohol use) constituted the samples for the study. The researchers employed purposive sampling technique, a non-probability sampling technique, due to the nature of the population for the study (students with histories of involvements in drug use, substance abuse and over dependent in alcohol use), to select purposive sample for this study. the researchers distributed self-developed questionnaire after a careful validation of face and content validity by professional counselling psychologist from federal university Lokoja, of and rest re-test reliability, “r”=0.84, to students identified with involvements in drug use, substance abuse and over dependent in alcohol use at the point of their reporting for counselling at the unit. The same set of questionnaire forms were re-administered to the subjects after the expiration of their counselling probation at the counselling unit. In-line with ethical consideration, respondents’ consents was sought by asking them to fill and sign consent form, respondents were also informed of the confidentiality of the result of the findings, and its use for research purpose only. Twenty-eight (28) respondents participated in the study. The researchers personally administered the questionnaire to the respondents. For data analysis appropriate statistical tools such as independent t-test was employed in testing the hypotheses formulated for the study. Findings from the study shows that counselling improved awareness of participants on psychosocial problems associated with substance use disorders, its negative impact on academics as well as need for counselling to care for those having problems,. Recommendations were made on the need for making referral of individuals with involvements in drug use, substance abuse and over dependent in alcohol use for professional counselling services as well as referring those receiving psychiatric treatment for involvement in drug use, substance abuse and over dependent in alcohol use for professional counselling services.