Substance Use Patterns Among Adolescents in Correctional Facilities in Rivers State, South South Nigeria

Adolescents in correctional settings represent a high-risk population for substance use disorders, yet they remain underserved by mental health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the types, frequency, and sociodemographic correlates of substance use among adolescents detained in correctional facilities in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design will be used, with a sample of 180 male and female adolescents aged 13 to 18 years recruited from two juvenile correctional institutions in Port Harcourt. The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) and a structured sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered by trained research assistants. Key variables of interest include substance type, age of initiation, peer influence, family history of substance use, and history of trauma. Data will be analyzed using SPSS, with frequency distributions and logistic regression employed to identify predictors. Literature consistently links early substance use with criminal behavior, school dropout, and long-term psychiatric morbidity. Findings from this study will contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation programming for incarcerated youth in Nigeria and inform policy recommendations for the Nigerian Correctional Service regarding psychiatric screening. Keywords: adolescents, substance use, correctional facilities, Rivers State, DUDIT