Effects of Peer Pressure on Substance Use Among Secondary School Adolescents in Lagos State

This study investigates the effects of peer pressure on substance use among secondary school adolescents in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterised by heightened susceptibility to peer influence, and Lagos, as Nigeria's most densely populated urban centre, presents a unique social environment where peer networks are complex and far-reaching. Using a descriptive correlational design, this research surveyed 410 senior secondary school students selected from public and private schools in three local government areas. The Social Influence Scale and the Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis instrument were adapted for use in the Nigerian context to measure peer pressure exposure and substance use patterns respectively. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between perceived peer pressure and the initiation and frequency of substance use, particularly alcohol and cannabis. Gender differences were observed, with male students reporting higher vulnerability to peer-induced substance use than their female counterparts. Findings also show that adolescents with weak family ties and low self-esteem are disproportionately influenced by deviant peer groups. The study underscores the need for school-based prevention programmes that strengthen adolescents' refusal skills and foster positive peer norms. Counsellors in Lagos schools are encouraged to implement group-based resilience training as part of the broader adolescent health curriculum. Keywords: peer pressure, substance use, adolescents, Lagos State, self-esteem.