Behavioural addiction and illicit drug use as threats towards sustainable social development

Abstract

Illicit drug users experience adverse life events, but few studies have examined the role of impulsivity, pornography, and gambling among secondary school students in these events. This study employed a simple random sampling to investigate the role of impulsivity, gambling, and pornography in predicting illicit drug use among secondary school students in Uyo metropolis. Participants were two hundred and thirteen (213) students purposively recruited from Monef High School. Using anonymous psychometric robust illicit drug use and behavioral addiction inventories, relevant data were collected which aided the investigation. The three-way Factorial ANOVA found that predictor variables have no relevant explanatory power on illicit drug use F(1,205)= 2.73, P>0.05. However, Impulsivity interacted with pornography to significantly influence illicit drug use F(1,205)=7.49, P<0.05, as well as impulsivity interacting with gambling to influence illicit drug use F(1,205)= 2.92, P<0.05. Results of the Factorial ANOVA document that impulsivity and pornography were the strongest influencers of illicit drug use among secondary students and were therefore seen to have potential effects in the fight against illicit drug use among students. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for practice, highlighting the need to develop recreational, educational awareness programs, which will contribute to more focused planning of mental health services, harm reduction measures, and outreach programs, as intervention mechanisms to aid in reducing illicit drug use among secondary school students.