Jibrin, M. D., Waziri, B. K., Wamanyi, Y., Zar, V. D., & Ibrahim, U. ()

Substance abuse among adolescents has become a significant public health concern worldwide, particularly among secondary school students who are at a critical developmental stage. This study investigated the physical health effects of substance abuse among secondary school students in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of secondary school students in Kokona LGA. A sample of 400 students was selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Physical Health Effects of Substance Abuse Questionnaire (PHESAQ). The instrument was validated by experts in health, education and educational psychology. Reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.82. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that commonly abused substances among students include alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and tramadol. The study further revealed that substance abuse contributes to several physical health problems among students such as respiratory complications, fatigue, weakened immune system, loss of appetite, headaches, and cardiovascular complications. The study concluded that substance abuse has significant negative effects on the physical health of secondary school students in Kokona LGA. It was recommended that health education programs, parental monitoring, and government policies should be strengthened to reduce substance abuse among adolescents.
Keywords: Substance abuse, Physical health effects, Secondary school students, Adolescents, Nasarawa State.