Alcohol and Substance Abuse Among Youths in Ibadan, Oyo State: A Social Work Perspective

The escalating prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among Nigerian youths poses a serious challenge to social cohesion, public health, and national development. This study examines the social determinants and social work implications of substance abuse among youths in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study targets youths aged 15 to 30 in selected urban and peri-urban communities within Ibadan North and Ibadan South-West local government areas. One hundred and twenty respondents are selected through multi-stage sampling, and data are collected using structured questionnaires. Frequency counts, percentages, and chi-square tests are used in analysis. The study finds that peer pressure, unemployment, family dysfunction, and lack of recreational alternatives are the leading contributors to substance abuse initiation and sustained use among the sample population. Social work interventions such as drug counselling, peer education, and community mobilisation are acknowledged but described as fragmented and inconsistently funded. The absence of dedicated drug rehabilitation centres accessible to low-income youths further compounds the problem. Recommendations include increasing the number of community-based rehabilitation services, training social workers in addiction counselling, and designing multi-agency prevention programmes targeting schools, religious organisations, and community associations. The findings are relevant to substance abuse policy and reinforce the importance of professionally guided social work practice in addressing youth risk behaviours. Keywords: substance abuse, youth, social work, Ibadan, addiction counselling