World Journal of Research and Review (WJRR) ISSN:2455-3956, Volume-5, Issue-1, July 2017 Pages 11-16 11 www.wjrr.org Abstract— Despite the existing scanty data on patterns of drug abuse in specific groups in the Nigerian communities due to the tendency of changing patterns in illicit drug use with various alarming reports on same points to the need to constantly update information on the use of drugs among Nigerian adolescents. This was a cross sectional, descriptive study on the prevalence of substance use amongst adolescents. A total number of 400 Senior Secondary Schools 1,2,3 students from two selected schools in Kagoro Chiefdom of Kaura local government area in Kaduna State (Nigeria) were randomly administered with a pre-coded four sections (socio-demographic information, drug awareness and use, attitude of the students to drug abuse and practice of substance abuse). Out of a total of 400 respondents, which males constituted 75% and females 25% of substance users. 89.20% were aware of substance use and 10.80 % were not aware. Substances used were alcohol (52.58%), analgesics (33.7%), marijuana (2.59%), cigarette (1.72%), glue/solution (0.86%) and other local substances (8.62%) respectively. Family setting of respondents taking substance (66.6%:5.95%:27.4%) from monogamous, polygamous and extended families respectively. Factors responsible for engagement in substance use was curiosity 38.10%, peer pressure 19.05%, depression 7.14%, energy for work 4.76%, home problems 1.19%, festivities aura 11.90% beliefs 5.96%, others 11.90%. 58.3% of respondents were introduced to substance use by friends, while 25% were introduced by their family members. Curiosity and peer pressure which is a characteristic of this age group are the major reasons for indulgence in substance use as well the ease at obtaining substances. Family also plays a role. Index Terms— Kagoro, Nigeria, Prevalence, Secondary School Students, Substance use. Bassi AP, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Idoko L, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria. Ogundeko TO, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Ramyil MSC, Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Abisoye-Ogunniyan A, Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. Ogbole EA, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Thilza SA, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. SuleUredo’ojo, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Ante E. Bassey, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Baba A. Ishaku, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. Chimbuoyim Iheanacho N, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos, Nigeria. \ I. INTRODUCTION The importance of substance abuse as a public health problem warranted its inclusion as a target 5 (Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol) under goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) [1]. Substances of abuse are categorized as: stimulants, hallucinogens, narcotics, depresants (sedatives and tranquilizers) and anabolic steroids. Although worldwide prevalence is high, researchers noted that illicit drug use remains vastly underestimated because of the inherent difficulty in gathering data, particularly with respect to use of hallucinogenic agents and inhalants, or the nonmedical use of anabolic steroids or benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium, Roche). It was estimated that in 2012, between 162 and 324 million people, corresponding to between 3.5% to 7.0 % of the world population aged 15-64, had used an illicit drug and the global prevalence of intravenous substance abuse was about 0.27 % and about 0.17% in Africa [2]. The use and abuse of drugs by adolescents has become one of the most disturbing health related phenomena in Nigeria and other parts of the world [3]. Drug use continues to exact a significant toll on valuable human lives and productivity. An estimated 183,000 (range: 95,000-226,000) drug-related deaths were reported in 2012 corresponding to a mortality rate of 40.0 (range: 20.8-49.3) deaths per million among the population aged 15-64 [2]. Substance abuse has obviously become a rapidly growing global phenomenon [4], [5], [6], thus the upper limits of its endemicity falling within the developed countries making it more challenging. Almost 70% of adolescents will have tried alcohol, half will have taken an illegal drug, nearly 40% will have smoked a cigarette, and more than 20% will have used a prescription drug for a nonmedical purpose by their senior years in high school [7]. Despite the relatively recent proscription as an illegal drug in much of the world, marijuana retains its historical popularity [8]. The prevalence of illicit drug use amongst adolescents, especially High School students is also shown to be on the rise in the United States of America, Ontario, Canada; Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados; and in the United Kingdom [9], [10]. The same trend of prevalence is also observed in Africa, confirming the high index of alcohol use, cigarette and cannabis smoking reported in Ghana and Rwanda [11], [12], [13]. Asserted experimental curiosity, peer group influence, lack of parental supervision, personality problems due to socio-economic conditions, the need for energy to work for long hours, availability of the drugs and the need to prevent the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms are the main factors associated with substance use among Substance Abuse and its Prevalence Among Secondary School Adolescents in Kagoro, Kaduna State, Nigeria Bassi AP, Idoko L, Ogundeko TO, Ramyil MSC, Abisoye-Ogunniyan A, Ogbole EA, Thilza SA, SuleUredo’ojo, Ante E. Bassey, Baba A. Ishaku,Chimbuoyim Iheanacho N