Relationship between University Type, Religious Affiliation, and Substance Use among University Students in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The issue of substance use and abuse poses obstacles, which are very tragic to students’ aspirations, the prospects of their families, and the government’s socioeconomic support for education in Nigeria. This study examines the relationship between University type, religious affiliation, and substance use, which are considered social behaviour factors. The study draws on Social Learning theories as its foundational framework. The study sample was nine hundred (900) derived from the study population of the selected universities in Kwara State totalling 53,000. Data analysis methods were descriptive statistical techniques, Cramers' V, Pearson Chi-square, and Probability Regression analysis. The findings indicate that the type of university ownership (federal, state, public, individual, organization, e.g., faith-based) has an impact on the rate of substance abuse among the selected university students. Furthermore, findings from the probit model further showed that parental religious affiliation has a significant impact on students' decision to engage in substance abuse, whether due to peer pressure, experimentation, or environmental factors, they may encounter in the future. Therefore, it is recommended that local, state and federal governments organize special community initiatives to support both parents and their children in understanding the profound consequences of substance use, as it is done in highly religious affiliations