Drug Abuse and School Dropout Among Male Adolescents in Urban Slums of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

Substance abuse among adolescents living in underserved urban communities is closely linked to educational disengagement, creating cyclical disadvantage that perpetuates poverty and psychiatric vulnerability. This study examines the association between drug abuse and school dropout among male adolescents in urban slum communities in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 200 male adolescents aged 12 to 19 years through community-based sampling, with 100 participants being current school attendees and 100 being confirmed school dropouts. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) will measure drug abuse severity, and a structured questionnaire will assess drug type, frequency of use, age of first use, peer influence, and family circumstances. Logistic regression will test whether drug abuse independently predicts school dropout after controlling for household poverty and family structure. Research from oil-producing communities in South South Nigeria has documented high prevalence of inhalant and cannabis use among vulnerable male adolescents. This study will provide evidence for substance abuse prevention programs targeting at-risk youth in Bayelsa State. Keywords: drug abuse, school dropout, adolescents, Bayelsa State, urban slums