` ISSN(Online): 2319-8753 ISSN (Print): 2347-6710 International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (A High I mpact Factor, Monthly, Peer Reviewed Journal) Visit: www.ijirset.com Vol. 7, Issue 4, April 2018 Copyright to IJIRSET DOI:10.15680/IJIRSET.2018.0704040 3474 Extent of Depressant Drug Abuse among Secondary School Students in Ebonyi State, Nigeria Christian Okechukwu Aleke 1 , Nkiru Edith Obande-Ogbuinya 2 , Patricia C. Ngwakwe 3 Asst. Lecturer, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria 1 Senior Lecturer, Department of human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria 2 Senior Lecturer, Department of human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria 3 ABSTRACT: This descriptive survey was conducted in order to determine the extent of depressant drug abuse among secondary school students in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A random sample of 680 students completed the questionnaire designed for the study. Out of this number 672, representing about 98.8% return rate, were used for data analysis. Means and standards deviations were used to describe the extent of depressant drugs abuse among the students. Mean statistic was used to answer the research questions and t-test statistic and ANOVA were used in testing the null hypotheses postulated for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed that the secondary school students abuse depressant drugs in a very low extent as their cluster mean is (1.66). Gender and age have no significant influence while class of study had a significant difference at .05 level of significance on the extent of depressants drug abuse among the students. The study supports the need for the inclusion of drug education in both the primary and secondary schools curricular, along with lectures, rallies, seminars and film shows to correct this ugly situation among the Nigerian adolescents, and to uncover the adverse effects of drug abuse. KEYWORDS: Drug Abuse, Depressant, Students, Ebonyi State. I. INTRODUCTION Drugs have been used in all societies at least since records began. People have used different kinds of drugs to change the way they feel, think or see the world. Different societies and cultures throughout history have experimented widely with different drugs, often with religious or ceremonial significance having been attached to their use. For instance, people use alcohol and other drugs to welcome visitors, celebrate special events like birthdays and weddings and some use sedative-hypnotic substances like Benzodiazepines tranquillizers and barbiturates for treatment of anxiety, sleep disorders, seizures and for anesthesia during major surgery. [1] Drug is defined as any substance, which is used for treatment or prevention of a disease in man and animals. Drug alters the body functions either positively or otherwise depending on the body composition of the user, the type of drug used, the amount used and whether used singly or with other drugs at the same time.[2]. Haladu [3] explained the term drug abuse as excessive and persistent self-administration of a drug without regard to the medically or culturally accepted patterns. Manbe [4] defined drug abuse as the excessive, maladaptive or addictive use of drugs for non- medical purpose. Abdulahi [5] viewed drug abuse as the use of drugs to the extent that interferes with the health and social function of an individual. Drug abuse has been a part of human history for a long time. The concern now is the incidence, extent, prevalence, potency and diversity of designer drugs, the health effects of long term use/abuse “[6], [7]”. In view of WHO and Leary’s assertion, the extent of depressant drug abuse among secondary school students was the major concern of the present study. The desire to achieve altered states of mind by using a wide variety of different substances seems to be almost universal. Hence many of this altered state of mind substances like sedative-hypnotic