FAMILY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Substance abuse among youths is an important public health and social concern because of its implications for physical and mental health, educational development, social functioning, and future productivity. Environmental conditions within the family constitute important influences on young people's vulnerability to substance use. This study examined family environmental factors associated with substance abuse among youths in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised youths aged 15–24 years residing in Awka South Local Government Area, estimated at approximately 45,000. A sample of 450 youths was initially determined using the Taro Yamane formula and adjusted for anticipated attrition. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select participants from in-school, out-of-school, and unemployed youth populations. Data were collected using the Environmental Factors and Substance Abuse Among Youths Questionnaire (EFASAYQ). The instrument was validated by three experts and yielded Cronbach's alpha coefficients of .84, .81, .79, and .82 for the family, peer, community, and school subscales, respectively, with an overall coefficient of .87. Of the questionnaires administered, 438 were properly completed and used for analysis, representing a 97.3% response rate. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation, with a criterion mean of 2.50. The findings showed that all five family environmental factors assessed were associated with substance abuse among youths. Poor parental supervision and monitoring recorded the highest mean score (M = 3.26, SD = 0.836), followed by family conflict, domestic violence and an unstable home environment (M = 3.19, SD = 0.863), history of substance abuse among siblings or close family members (M = 3.18, SD = 0.857), poor emotional bonding and lack of parental affection (M = 3.15, SD = 0.872), and parental or guardian substance use in the home (M = 3.09, SD = 0.873). The grand mean of 3.17 indicated overall agreement that family environmental factors were associated with substance abuse among youths. The study concludes that family-centred prevention should emphasise effective parental monitoring, positive parent–youth relationships, family stability, and early intervention where substance use occurs within the household.