Influence of Peer Communication on Drug Abuse Among UNN Students: The Role of Interpersonal Networks

Peer communication networks within university environments have been identified as critical channels of social influence on substance use behaviours among young adults, with interpersonal communication frequently cited as a more proximate influence on drug initiation than mass media campaigns in African tertiary institutions. This study examined the influence of peer interpersonal communication on drug abuse attitudes and behaviours among undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The study was grounded in the Social Influence Theory, which holds that individual attitudes and behaviours are significantly shaped by normative messages, direct persuasion, and modelling behaviours within peer networks. A survey research design was adopted, targeting a population of 18,000 students across all faculties at UNN. A sample of 390 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling, and a structured questionnaire was administered with confidentiality assurances to encourage candid responses. Findings indicated that 54 percent of respondents reported receiving direct peer communications encouraging drug experimentation, with close friendship networks identified as the most influential source of pro-drug messaging. Students with stronger family communication patterns and higher media literacy showed greater resistance to peer drug influence. Substance types most associated with peer communication influence included marijuana, codeine-based cough syrups, and tramadol. The study concluded that peer communication networks at UNN function as powerful pro-drug socialisation channels that require targeted counter-communication interventions. It was recommended that the university establish peer health educator programmes and integrate interpersonal resistance communication skills into student orientation activities.
Keywords: peer communication, drug abuse, social influence, UNN students, interpersonal networks