substance use

Objective: This study investigates the different motives and substance use risk profile in opium and methamphetamine use. Method: The statistical sample includes Seventy-eight individuals with substance use history referred to drop-in center (DIC) that completed research instruments including demographic information (researcher-made questionnaire), substance use motives (Hecimovic, Barrett, Darredeau, and Stewart, 2014), and substance use risk profile scale (Woicik et al., 2009). Multivariate analysis of variance utilized for data analysis based on SPSS-24. Results: The results of the MANOVA indicated that availability, relaxation, enjoying, and sexual motives are significantly higher in individuals using methamphetamine. Also, the results of the substance use risk profile represent that there are significant differences in anxiety sensitivity, sensation-seeking, and impulsivity in opium and methamphetamine use. Conclusions: Findings indicate the important role of motives and substance use risk profile in the tendency to the different types of substances. These various motives and personality risk factors should be considered in educational settings and psychological treatment for different types of substance use, especially opiate or stimulating substances.

Objective: Mental health has remained an issue that affects various age groups with different levels of outcomes. One age group that needs urgent attention is the in-school adolescents. Studies have used various predictors to explore in-school adolescents’ mental health with varied results. Therefore, this study investigated parental verbal abuse, substance use and self-esteem as predictors of mental health among in-school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted while purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select three local government areas and 200 in-school adolescents for the study. Data were collected using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Hare Self-esteem Scale, Verbal Abuse Questionnaire and Substance Use Scale and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: The results revealed that parental verbal abuse, substance use and self-esteem jointly predicted mental health among study participants [R2=.12, F (4,199) = 6.64, p <.05]. Also, parental verbal abuse (β = -.20, p < .05) and self-esteem (β = -.20, p < .05) independently predicted mental health among study participants. However, substance use (β = -.11, p >.05) did not independently predict mental health among study participants. Conclusion: The study concludes that parental verbal abuse, substance use and self-esteem are strong predictors of mental health among study participants. The paper recommended that in order to enhance the mental health of in-school adolescents, government and other stakeholders should advocate for the development and implementation of policies that prioritize mental health support and resources for adolescents within Lagos State and Nigeria.