Alcohol and Substance Use as Correlates of Health and Psychological Well Being of Youhts in Ibadan Nigeria

This study examined the effects of alcohol and other substance use on health and social well-being among youths in Nigeria. Descriptive research survey design was adopted. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) youths were selected as sample through convenient sampling method. A self-developed, validated Likert-type designed questionnaire with a reliability of 0.86 was used as instrument. Data collected were analysed using simple percentages, frequency count and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that alcohol and other substance use had significant influence on health of youths (r = .603, n= 225, P (.000) < 0.05). The result further showed that there was significant relationship between alcohol and other substance use on psychological well-being of youths (r = .510, n= 225, P(.000) < 0.05). The study concluded that alcohol and other substance use have direct relationship on health while health also has direct relationship on social well-being of youths. The study recommended that sensitization on dangers of alcohol and substance use on health and psychological well-being should further be intensified by social workers and other health stake holders. The challenges of alcohol and substance use among the youths must be tackled headlong to ensure sustainability of a drug-free African society.