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American Journal of   Physical Education 
and Health Science (AJPEHS)

The Perceived Effects of  Substance Abuse on Adolescents’ Health 
Sefunmi Titilope Ola-Akinlalu1*

Volume 3 Issue 2, Year 2025
ISSN: 2992-9679 (Online) 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajpehs.v3i2.5942
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajpehs

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: August 11, 2025

Accepted: September 15, 2025

Published: October 21, 2025

Most teenagers view substance usage as a casual matter, unaware that prolonged use of  these 
substances, even in tiny doses, can have negative effects and function more as a depressant 
than a stimulant. This study aimed to look into the relationship between teen drug usage and 
health. Methods: Teens (13 to 19 years old) attended school in Ondo State for a minimum of  
one year. Results: It was found that while mental health disorders, drug dependence, sex drive, 
teenage pregnancy, and violence were perceived as effects of  substance abuse on adolescents’ 
mental health, stroke, irregular heartbeat, memory loss, hypoxia, and seizures were perceived 
as effects on adolescents’ physical health. Furthermore, there was no discernible variation 
in the reported impacts of  substance usage on the physical and emotional well-being of  
teenagers according to their gender. In conclusion, the adolescent’s bodily and emotional 
well-being depends on his or her giving up substance abuse of  any kind. Thus, we implore 
stakeholders in education and health to regularly arrange dramatizations and discussions 
among adolescents about the risks associated with substance abuse. Public education 
initiatives by the government and non-governmental groups need to take a cooperative, 
multidisciplinary, and multi-sectoral approach. Outreach initiatives and counseling should be 
used to increase public knowledge of  drug misuse and usage.

Keywords

Adolescents, Mental Health, 
Physical Health, Substance Abuse

1 Department of  Public Health, City university, Cambodia
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: titilopeolaakinlalu@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION
During this stage of life, adolescents experience physical, 
psychological, social, and emotional changes. They also 
frequently take on habits that increase their chance of 
developing health issues, such as substance misuse (Gray 
& Squeglia, 2018). Adolescent substance addiction is a 
growing global phenomenon that needs to be addressed 
by all helping professionals to create methods that will 
give teenagers the means to live a life free from substance 
misuse. Adolescent substance misuse appears to have 
occurred at some point in their academic or professional 
life.
Drug abuse and substance abuse have been used 
interchangeably in literary works. According to Agbonghale 
and Okaka (2014), the use of  a substance that alters 
behavior or mood in a way suggestive of  a maladaptive 
pattern of  use is commonly accepted to be the definition 
of  drug abuse. According to Musto (2018), substance abuse 
is the use of  drugs that can lead to a condition in which the 
user experiences severe impairments or discomfort due to 
a maladaptive pattern of  behavior or mood disturbance. 
Such behaviours include, but are not limited to, frequently 
abstaining from social or professional commitments or 
consuming drugs when doing so puts oneself  at risk or 
lands one in legal trouble.
This suggests a change in conduct. Substances are 
chemicals that interfere with the brain’s communication 
system, affecting how nerve cells typically send, receive, 
and process information. Because the molecular structures 
of  some drugs, like as heroin and marijuana, mirror 
those of  natural neurotransmitters, these substances 

can activate neurons. The drugs can “fool” receptors by 
attaching to and activating nerve cells due to their similar 
structures. These drugs function on nerve cells differently 
from a normally occurring neurotransmitter, despite their 
appearance as brain chemicals. As a result, abnormal 
messages spread across the network.
Other substances, like cocaine or amphetamines, can 
either stop these molecules from being routinely recycled 
in the brain or cause the nerve cells to emit unusually 
high levels of  their neurotransmitters. This finally 
causes a breakdown in the communication lines, which 
likewise dramatically magnifies the message. The effect 
of  someone whispering in your ear and someone yelling 
into a microphone can be compared. According to 
Cecilia (2010), using drugs to the degree where a person’s 
social, psychological, or physiological functioning is 
compromised is the medical definition of  substance 
abuse. It entails utilizing illegal drugs or abusing over-the-
counter or prescription pharmaceuticals.
It describes the overuse of  medications, or their 
prescription use for purposes other than those for 
which they are intended. Opioids, amphetamines, 
tobacco, and barbiturates are some of  these substances 
of  abuse. Substance abuse involves significant cultural 
and subjective prejudice, contingent on whether a given 
culture considers the use of  a particular substance to 
be acceptable or not at a given time. Enakpoya (2019) 
went on to define substance misuse as using medications 
without a prescription or guidance from a doctor. 
Substance abuse is one of  the most risky activities among 
teenagers attending secondary schools. Even though it is 



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a global concern to educate students about psychoactive 
substances, many secondary schools nowadays only cover 
a small portion of  the harmful impacts.
Most adolescents enrolling in secondary schools report 
that they first experimented with gateway drugs, including 
alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Marijuana is the most 
commonly used drug, followed by tobacco. As key centers 
of  perception and stimulation, the brain, liver, kidneys, 
heart, and lungs are among the primary organs that can 
be harmed in substance abusers, according to a 2019 
study by Manbe. The report also noted that, in addition to 
various difficulties, substance abusers struggle to manage 
their social lives. This underscores the influence that 
teenage peer groups can have on a person’s decision to 
use drugs. Consequently, aggressive tendencies have been 
observed, leading to violent crimes such as rape, theft, 
armed robbery, suicide attempts, juvenile offenses, and 
school expulsions. These adolescents often become social 
outcasts in their communities.
Medical professionals and scholars in Nigeria have 
recognized that drug misuse and consumption impact 
pupils’ academic achievement (Adamu & Lawal, 2013). 
In a similar vein, Atoyebi (2013) discovered that drug 
misuse is the primary factor behind many inappropriate 
classroom behaviors, such as violence and impulsivity, in 
addition to poor academic performance. This supports 
Mayo’s (2013) claim that drug usage leads to low self-
esteem, inadequate social coping skills, and educational 
difficulties for young people. In response to this troubling 
situation, the federal and state governments have tackled 
the issue of  substance addiction by incorporating health 
counseling and guidance services into secondary school 
curricula. As a result, education and prevention programs 
addressing adolescent substance misuse are now primarily 
offered in Nigerian schools.
However, Eneh and Stanley (2014) pointed out that 
a significant amount of  drug usage among teenagers 
takes place at schools. Student substance addiction is a 
very widespread problem. Social interactions and learnt 
behaviour are virtually invariably the cause of  teenage 
drug and alcohol usage (Swaid 2011). Experimentation 
is one of  the significant psychological phenomena that 
are seen throughout this phase of  adolescence (Graham 
et al., 2013).
Adolescents have been seen to experiment with new 
experiences like substance misuse and sex as a result of  
this behaviour, sometimes with disastrous outcomes. 
Despite the detrimental effects of  substance usage on 
adolescents’ ability to think, make wise decisions, and 
pursue academic goals, Adolescent drug misuse is now 
widespread. Adolescent substance misuse is on the rise; 
there has been a discernible increase in the involvement 
of  women and the use of  numerous substances, as well 
as changes in the types and patterns of  drug usage among 
teenagers (Ifabumuyi, 2017). Thus, this research aims to 
investigate the potential health effects of  substance usage 
on teenagers in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Statement of  the Problem
Adolescents often view substance abuse as trivial. They 
are unaware that these drugs act more as depressants 
than stimulants, and that frequent use, even in small 
amounts, can lead to adverse effects. It is estimated that 
approximately 5% of  the global population, or a quarter 
of  a billion people, have used drugs at least once. Even 
more alarming is the statistic that 29.5 million of  those 
users, or 0.6% of  the world’s population, have drug use 
disorders (UNODC, 2016). According to the World Drug 
Report (UNODC, 2018), drug-related deaths worldwide 
increased by 60% between 2000 and 2015.
Compared to all other continents, Africa has the largest 
proportion of  teenagers among its total population, 
making it the youngest continent globally. Adolescents 
between the ages of  10 and 18 make up 32% of  the 
population in West and Central Africa, as well as East and 
Southern Africa. This is higher than the global average 
of  24% (Kendall, 2001). 31% of  Nigeria’s 158.4 million 
residents in 2010 were teenagers, or those between the 
ages of  10 and 19. It is projected that the number of  
teenagers globally will reach 73 million by 2025 and 
116 million by 2050. Things have gotten worse for the 
teenage population of  Nigeria since the results of  a 
recent national survey on drug abuse were confirmed to 
be massive, meaning that the rate of  psychoactive drug 
substance use among Nigerian adolescents is higher than 
the global average, at 5.6% globally and 15% in Nigeria.
Eight out of  every nine high school students (1.19%, or 
1.6 million) suffer from an addictive disorder; of  those 
who have ever used tobacco, alcohol, or other substances, 
19.4% satisfy the clinical diagnostic criteria for a substance 
use disorder, and 33.3% of  those who use them currently 
also do so (CASA, 2009). In 2009, the percentage of  
adolescents receiving official treatment for alcohol and 
other drug addiction at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, 
or mental health centers was limited to 6.4%. These 
adolescents meet the clinical criteria for alcohol or other 
drug use disorders. Adolescents should not have to wait 
to obtain treatment; even when they do, their care is 
frequently insufficient (CASA, 2009).
The Nigerian drug policy “has been characterized by a 
highly exclusive policy-making process,” claims Klatschnig 
(2013). In this specific situation, repression “has become 
the sole means of  implementation and a strong bond 
with international drug agencies.” This program focused 
primarily on punishment and prevention, paying little 
attention to the effects of  drug abuse.

Rationale/Justification for the Review
Adolescent substance misuse has been documented in 
studies and reports. For instance, within six months, the 
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 
Katsina State arrested 443 drug suspects in possession of  
at least 336.4043 kg of  illicit substances and 2,553.06 liters 
of  cough syrup suspected of  containing codeine. At the 
Federal High Court of  Katsina, 110 cases were pending 
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and punished by the NDLEA. It was also stated that the 
authorities had confiscated 53 kg of  Tramadol tablets, 
51 kg of  cannabis sativa, and 24,000 bottles of  codeine. 
In addition, 128 bottles of  codeine cough syrup and 21 
students and infants under the age of  one were captured 
in Katsina State.
An increasing amount of  information is being released 
about the nationwide surge in adolescent drug misuse and 
related issues. Peer pressure and emotional stress are the 
main causes of  teenage drinking, among other factors. 
There have been several attempts, as was previously 
reported, but they have failed. Thus, it is necessary to 
create a health education program that focuses on how 
substance abuse affects the health of  adolescents. Youth 
are a critical period for the development of  coping 
behaviours and responses, such as drug use as a coping 
mechanism for stress, peer pressure, and emotional pain, 
according to the American Journal of  Public Health 
(2007). Therefore, reducing exposure to risk factors and 
altering the factors that are already present should be the 
main goals of  drug prevention initiatives. 
Programs that emphasize the direct physiological 
repercussions of  substance misuse as well as coping 
mechanisms for social pressure to abuse substances may 
be particularly effective in health education, given the 
impact that substance abuse has on adolescent health. 
Teenagers may avoid substance usage with confidence 
and without flimsy justifications if  they are aware of  
the risk factors. The results of  the study could be useful 
in helping teenagers who have already developed a 
substance misuse habit quit using cessation techniques. 
Understanding the negative consequences of  substance 
misuse on the health of  teenagers can help these young 
people avoid consuming drugs so they can focus on their 
education and grow up to be productive members of  
society.

Objectives
General Objective
To investigate the effects of  substance abuse on 
adolescents’ health

Specific Objectives
1. Examine the perceived effects of  substance abuse on 

adolescents’ physical health.
2. Investigate the perceived effects of  substance abuse 

on adolescents’ mental health.

Research Question
1. What are the perceived effects of  substance abuse 

on adolescents’ physical health?
2. What are the perceived effects of  substance abuse 

on adolescents’ mental health?

Hypotheses
H01: There is no significant difference in perceived 

effects of  substance abuse on adolescents’ physical health 
based on gender.

H02: there is no significant difference in the perceived 
effects of  substance abuse on adolescents’ mental health 
based on gender.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Adolescence
The short- and long-term impacts of  substance use 
can be deadly, which is why it is still a concern even 
though teens are most constrained by practical and legal 
restrictions. Young people’s unintended injury and death 
(vehicle collisions, suicide, etc.) are primarily caused by 
substance addiction (Johnston et al., 2011). Maladaptive 
behavioural patterns are established during this time 
and are subsequently connected to both physical and 
mental health problems (Matarazzo & Perry, 2014). 
Thus, examining the substance use and outcomes of  
adolescents can help tailor interventions and maximize 
long-term benefits.

Physical Health/Medical Conditions 
Development undergoes major changes during 
adolescence. As a result, even occasional drug usage 
may have negative effects. Adolescent alcohol and 
drug usage raises the possibility of  violence and injury 
(CDCP, 2011). According to the results of  a nationwide 
research conducted in the United States a month before 
the poll, 24.1 percent of  high school students reported 
being passengers in a car driven by someone who had 
used alcohol, and 8.2 percent reported driving a car after 
drinking. Sixth of  college students reported drugged 
driving (i.e., taking illegal or prescription drugs for non-
medical purposes) in the previous year, according to a 
survey of  older teens (Arria et al., 2011). 
When there is a combination of  motor skill impairment 
and inexperience behind the wheel, the risk of  traffic 
accident injuries and deaths increases.
Substance-using adolescents frequently engage in risky 
sexual behaviors (CDCP, 2012). Twenty-one percent of  
sexually active high school students report using drugs or 
alcohol before their most recent sexual encounter (CDCP, 
2012). Consequently, a strong association has been 
observed between adolescent substance use, hazardous 
sexual behavior, and the incidence of  sexually transmitted 
infections (STDs) (Kingree et al., 2010). According to 
Riehman et al. (2016), social and chronic substance users 
are more likely to have unprotected sex and a history of  
multiple sexual partners well into late adolescence.
According to current data from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) (CDCP, 2012), over 25% 
of  new instances of  HIV infection occur among young 
people, and approximately 60% of  those infected were 
ignorant of  their status, highlighting the severity of  this 
danger. Yan and colleagues conducted additional research 
(Yan et al., 2017) to ascertain the relationship between 
drug usage and sexual risk behaviors associated with 
HIV/STDs. They discovered that there was a substantial 
correlation between not using condoms and smoking 
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countrywide sample of  young people in rural US settings 
who were sexually active. Drug and alcohol abuse have 
historically and now been connected to several sexual 
partners. 
Yan et al. (2017) state that substance abuse and risky 
sexual conduct seem to be parts of  a constellation of  
irresponsible behaviors, some of  which are normative 
and others of  which are the result of  social impairments. 
Compared to teens without SUD, adolescents with SUD 
diagnoses had more acute and possibly chronic health 
issues. About half  of  emergency department (ED) visits 
for drug abuse or misuse in the US in 2011 were related to 
the non-medical use of  prescription and over-the-counter 
drugs. When it comes to adolescents between the ages of  
12 and 17, the number of  ED visits for pharmaceutical 
abuse is more than the number for alcohol abuse (301 ED 
visits compared to 160 ED visits per 100,000 population) 
(CDCP, 2011). Abuse of  drugs and/or alcohol together 
increases the risk of  serious injury.
Teenagers who use drugs have a greater incidence rate 
of  one-fourth of  the concomitant medical problems 
that Mertens, Flisher, Fleming, and Weisner (2017) 
examined. It can be challenging to identify certain 
chronic health conditions in younger individuals. It has 
been demonstrated that diagnoses related to pain and 
asthma, in particular, are prevalent and expensive medical 
conditions among the patient population. Myers and 
Brown (2014) and (2017) discovered that respiratory 
issues persisted for two to four years following drug 
misuse therapy for teenage smokers, regardless of  
the use of  other substances. Long-term drug use can 
worsen symptoms and, in certain situations, lead to more 
severe, potentially fatal diseases; nevertheless, it can be 
challenging to definitively link certain medical disorders 
to one another.

Mental Health/Psychiatric Disorders 
Suicidal thoughts and deeds create a clear link between 
mental and physical health. Suicide is the third most 
common cause of  mortality for youths in America between 
the ages of  10 and 19 (Kochanek et al., 2012). Although 
it is not necessarily the “cause” of  suicidal thoughts and 
attempts, substance misuse is a significant risk factor 
for them (Nock et al., 2013). Those with substance use 
disorders (SUDs) are almost three times more likely than 
those without drug use to attempt suicide, according 
to research (Bukstein et al., 2013). Even after adjusting 
for depression, Wu et al.’s (2014) study, which looked at 
data from a community sample of  teens, discovered a 
significant link between alcohol misuse and dependency 
and attempts at suicide. These findings highlight the 
need for more investigation into the connection between 
substance misuse and abuse and suicidal thoughts and 
actions, both in the context of  mental health issues and 
in the absence of  them.
According to Storr et al. (2012), adolescents in clinical 
samples exhibit significant rates of  comorbidity. Two 
diagnoses are present in 70–80% of  young individuals 

seeking therapy (Kaminer & Bukstein, 2017). However, 
comorbidity patterns vary according to the type of  drug 
used, the severity of  SUD, and the mental health issue 
(Roberts et al., 2007). For example, there are gender 
variations in the co-occurrence of  mood disorders, even 
though internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression) 
are widespread in both clinical and general adolescent 
populations. Specifically, compared to boys, girls with 
SUDs experience higher rates of  depression (McGuinness 
et al., 2012).
Shrier et al. (2013) evaluated the psychological symptoms 
of  young people with sub-diagnostic drug use disorders 
in a primary care setting to investigate this further. 
They discovered that girls who reported symptoms of  
mental disorders were more likely to become drug users. 
Adolescent males and girls with diagnostic or problematic 
usage have been found to exhibit a high prevalence of  
anxiety symptomology (Shrier et al., 2013). Roughly 7% 
of  youth with SUD met the diagnostic criteria for any 
anxiety disorder in the preceding year (Roberts et al., 
2017).
There is some evidence that externalizing disorders usually 
occur before SUDs, even if  the precise order in which 
mental symptoms and substance use emerge varies from 
person to person (Zucker et al., 2011). The constellation 
of  maladaptive and disruptive behaviors that characterize 
disorders like conduct disorder, oppositional defiant 
disorder, and ADHD initially emerged in childhood 
or adolescence (American Psychiatric Association, 
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of  Mental Disorders). 
Sub-diagnostic drug and alcohol use in teenagers, 
both male and female, has been linked to externalizing 
symptoms (Shrier et al., 2013; Molina, Pelham, 2013). This 
shows a connection between problematic usage before 
meeting all SUD criteria and behavioral disturbance. But 
according to epidemiological statistics, SUDs are linked to 
higher chances of  ODD and CD co-occurring (Roberts 
et al., 2017). 
Data suggest that problematic or diagnostic behaviors, 
substance use, and socially hazardous behaviors may 
co-occur and, when considered together, may even 
exacerbate each other (Roberts et al., 2017; Costello et 
al., 2013). These behaviors may not have as much of  
an effect during adolescence because of  their limited 
social responsibilities, but when young people become 
adults, maladaptive behavior combined with prolonged 
substance use can exacerbate impairment.

Theoretical Framework 
Disease Theory 
The disease idea most emphasizes the parallels and 
differences between those who suffer from addiction as a 
“disease” and those who do not. As stated in Horvath et 
al. (2014) and Dual Diagnosis (2014), addiction is defined 
by this paradigm as an uncontrollable brain disorder 
with faulty structure and functioning that renders the 
addiction “irreversible”. The pathological changes in the 
brain that cause obsessive cravings are also addressed 



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by this approach (West & Brown, 2013). The “heart” 
of  the illness notion, according to West and Brown 
(2013), is the desire episodes because they are “urgent 
and overpowering,” seemingly taking over the person 
both physically and emotionally. The disease theory states 
that a progressive, lifelong illness results from a lack of  
control. It also describes addiction as a medical problem 
and claims that some individuals are predisposed to 
addiction from birth (Lindström, 2012; West & Brown, 
2013). Even though the gene combination varies from 
case to case, the symptoms remain consistent. Addiction 
outcomes are significantly influenced by the environment 
(Dual Diagnosis, 2014). 
The disease theory’s implications suggest that the goal of  
treatment for alcoholics who wish to stop drinking should 
be universal. Inherited defective genes make those with a 
family history of  drinking more susceptible. Unaddressed 
substance misuse can have deadly effects, and recovery is 
unlikely to occur without intervention. To prevent these 
outcomes, treatment is necessary. Even after receiving 
treatment, there is always a risk of  relapse, regardless 
of  how long someone has remained sober (Lindström, 
2012). The illness concept posits that discontinuing drug 
use and other related behaviors while receiving support 
from friends or family is the best approach for recovery. 
Although relapses are a possibility, healing requires 
letting go of  the addictive habit. After many years, some 
individuals may recover on their own, which could be 
attributed to a normalizing anomaly in the brain or the 
idea that they were never addicted in the first place. 
Research has indicated that the twelve-step program and 
various forms of  peer support have a noteworthy effect 
on the process of  alcohol abstinence. While some believe 
that physical restraint is the only way to heal, motivation 
and hope—two significant results of  the support—also 
play a role in a successful recovery (Horvath et al., 2014; 
West & Brown, 2013).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area 
The capital of  Ondo State, Akure, lies between latitudes 
7046 N and longitudes 4034 E and 7.7670 N and 4.5670 
E, and this is the research area. Akure South and Akure 
North Local Governments are the two local government 
areas in Akure. Akure has a population of  more than 
287,156 according to the 2006 census (provisional results) 
(Wikipedia, 2012). 

Sample Design 
A descriptive study approach was used to examine 

teenagers enrolled in senior secondary schools in 
Akure, Ondo State, between the ages of  13 and 19. To 
minimize potential bias resulting from the influx of  
visiting teenagers, the study was restricted to in-school 
adolescents who had been admitted to secondary school 
for a minimum of  one year.

Sampling Technique 
In Akure South Local Government. Roughly ten 
(10) schools were chosen at random from the local 
government: C.A.C Grammar School, Fiwasaye 
Grammar School, Oyemekun Grammar School, Aquinas 
Grammar School, Omoluorogbo Grammar School, 
Commercial School, Alagbaka Grammar School, St. 
Francis Grammar School, Army Comprehensive School, 
and Adu Memorial. From each of  the chosen schools, 
twenty(20) in-school teenagers were chosen using a basic 
random selection procedure. Two hundred teenagers 
enrolled in senior secondary education make up the 
study’s sample.
In order to treat all of  the respondents equally, this study 
used the basic random sampling technique.

Instruments for Data Collection 
A basic 15-item questionnaire featuring both closed- and 
open-ended questions was used to collect data from the 
target group. Section A of  the questionnaire primarily 
focused on sociodemographic data, while Section B 
addressed the main study issues. The questionnaire 
employs four Likert scales: 1 for strongly disagree, 
2 for disagree, 3 for agree, and 4 for strongly agree. 
The questionnaire was self-administered, as well as 
administered by the researcher and her study assistants. 
Each of  the two hundred surveys was accurately 
completed and submitted.

Data Analysis
The methods for gathering and analyzing the data 
involved descriptive statistics. The t-test was employed to 
evaluate the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of  significance, 
while percentages, means, and standard deviations 
were used to address the study difficulties. Items were 
classified as agreeing with the study questions if  their 
mean score was 2.50 or higher, and as dissenting if  it was 
lower. The null hypothesis is accepted when the p-value 
for the hypothesis test exceeds alpha at the 0.05 level of  
significance.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Demographic Data

Table 1: Frequency Distribution of  Demographic Data of  the Respondents
Variables Frequency Percentage
Age (in years)
13-14 years 78 39.0
15-17 years 104 52.0
18-19 18 9.0



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Table 2: Mean and Rank Order of  the Perceived Effects of  Substance Abuse on Adolescents’ Physical Health
Item No. As far as I am concerned, the following are the effects 

of  substance abuse on physical health   
Mean Rank

2 Stroke 3.83      1st
5 Irregular heartbeat 3.80     2nd
3 Impairment in memory 3.76 3rd
6 Hypoxia 3.73 4th
7 Seizure 3.70 5th
4 Sleep disorder 3.44  6th
1 Respiratory depression 3.27     7th

Table 3: Mean and Rank Order of  the Perceived Effects of  Substance Abuse on Adolescents’ Mental Health
Item No. As far as I am concerned, the following are the effects 

of  substance abuse on mental health   
Mean Rank

6 Mental health disorder 3.83 1st
3 Dependence on drug 3.80 2nd
5 Sex drive 3.76 3rd
2 teenage pregnancy 3.73 4th
1 Violence 3.70 5th
4 poor judgment 3.47 6th
7 poor academic performance 3.33 7th

The respondents’ demographic details are shown in Table 
1. Fifty-four out of  the 104 responders (52%) were in 
the 15–17 age range. With 78 (39.0%) responses, the 
respondents between the ages of  13 and 17 made up the 
second-highest group in the survey. Of  the responses, 
only eighteen (9.0%) were in the 18–19 age range. Out of  
all the responses, 81 (40.5%) are female and 119 (59.5%) 
are male teenagers enrolled in school. Regarding the 

respondents’ class level, 63 (31.5%) of  the respondents 
are in SSS3, 54 (27.0%) are in SSS1, and 83 (41.5%) of  the 
respondents are in SSS2.

Answering Research Questions
Research Question 1
What are the perceived effects of  substance abuse on 
adolescents’ physical health?

The mean and rank order of  the perceived impacts of  
substance misuse on the physical health of  adolescents 
are displayed in Table 2 above. As their response is 2.50 
and above, the acceptance region (benchmark), it can 
be seen that the respondent agreed that stroke, irregular 
heartbeat, memory loss, hypoxia, and seizures are among 
the perceived effects of  substance abuse on adolescents’ 

physical health. In contrast, items such as sleep disorder 
and respiratory depression were rejected because their 
mean response was less than 2.50.

Research Question 2
What are the perceived effects of  substance abuse on 
adolescents’ mental health?

Total 200 100
Gender
Male 119 59.5
Female 81 40.5
Total 200 100
Religion
SSS1 54 27.0
SSS2 83 41.5
SSS3 63 31.5
Total 200 100



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Given that the p-value (0.061) is higher than alpha 
(0.05), the hypothesis in Table 4 above, which states that 
“there is no significant difference of  perceived effects of  
substance abuse on adolescents’ physical health based 
on gender,” is not rejected. Thus, there is no discernible 
gender difference in the impact of  substance usage on the 

physical health of  teenagers.

Hypothesis 2
There is no significant difference in perceived effects of  
substance abuse on adolescents’ mental health based on 
gender.

The mean and standard deviation of  the impact of  
substance misuse on the mental health of  teenagers 
are displayed in Table 3 above. Given that their mean 
response fell below the acceptance region (benchmark), 
poor judgment and poor academic performance were 
rejected, while the table indicates that respondents 
agreed that mental health disorders, drug dependence, 
sex drive, teenage pregnancy, and violence are the 

perceived effects of  substance abuse on adolescents’ 
mental health.

Testing of  Hypotheses 
Hypothesis 1
There is no significant difference in the perceived effects 
of  substance abuse on adolescents’ physical health based 
on gender.

Table 4: Mean, SD, and t-test Result Showing Difference in the Perceived Effect of  Substance Abuse on Adolescents’ 
Physical Health based on Gender 
Gender N Mean SD df Cal. t        Crit. t            p-value
Male 119 3.60 0.73    198     3.87*      1.96 0.061
Female 81 3.16 0.84

*p < 0.05

Table 5: Mean, SD, and t-test Result Showing Difference in the Perceived Effects of  Substance Abuse on Adolescents’ 
Mental Health based on Gender. 
Gender N Mean SD df Cal. t        Crit. t            p-value
Male 119 3.50 0.51    198 0.76* 1.96 0.13
Female 81 3.35 0.85

*p < 0.05

Given that the p-value (0.13) is higher than alpha (0.05), 
the hypothesis in Table 5 above, which states that “there 
is no significant difference of  perceived effects of  
substance abuse on adolescents’ mental health based 
on gender,” is not rejected. Thus, there is no discernible 
gender difference in the impact of  substance usage on the 
mental health of  teenagers.

Discussion of  Findings
The majority of  adolescents in Akure, Ondo State, who 
are enrolled in school, believe that substance abuse has an 
adverse influence on their physical health. This indicates 
that teenagers still in school are aware of  the risks 
associated with substance addiction, including stroke, 
irregular heartbeat, memory loss, hypoxia, and seizures.
The majority of  adolescents in Akure, Ondo State, who 
are enrolled in school, think that substance misuse has an 
impact on the mental health of  adolescents. It indicates 
that teenagers are conscious of  mental health issues, 
drug addiction, sexual urges, adolescent pregnancy, 
and violence towards those who take substances on 
their own volition. This result confirms the findings 
of  Atoyebi (2013), who suggested that drug usage was 
the primary cause of  most inappropriate classroom 
behaviors, including violence and impulsiveness, as well 
as academic failure. This is also consistent with Mayo’s 

(2013) argument that drug usage causes young people 
to struggle academically and have low self-esteem or 
inadequate social coping mechanisms. Additionally, the 
research supports Pavla’s (2015) assertion that several 
factors affect adolescents’ perceptions of  and attitudes 
about substance misuse.
The study also shows that there is no discernible gender 
variation in the consequences of  substance usage on the 
physical and mental health of  teenagers. 
This study supports the findings of  Obiamaka (2004), 
who found that 66% of  boys and girls had previously 
used alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS 
For the adolescent’s physical and mental well-being, they 
should stop taking substances in any way.
The study’s conclusions led to the following 
recommendations being made: 

1. Adolescents can become more aware of  the risks of  
drug use and misuse at home and at school if  drama and 
debate about the subject are regularly organized. 

2. Public enlightenment requires a collaborative, 
multidisciplinary, and multisectoral approach from both 
government and non-government entities. 

3. Counseling and outreach programs should be used 
to raise awareness about drug abuse and usage.



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