EFFECTIVENESS OF THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR DRUG ABUSE SENSITISATION AMONG UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA
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Date
2024-12
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Nasarawa Journal of Multimedia and Communication Studies
Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of the use of social media for drug abuse
sensitisation among undergraduates in Nigeria. Given the widespread use of social
media and the prevalence of drug-related content, this study aims to understand how
exposure to anti-drug and pro-drug messages affects students’ attitudes and behaviours.
The social media platforms that were examined in this study include Tik-Tok,
Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, X (formerly twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Youtube.
A descriptive research design was used, while the population of the study comprised
undergraduates from three public universities in Nigeria: Osun State University, Osun
State, Kwara State University, Kwara State and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. A
multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 400 respondents for the study, and
data were collected through an online, self-structured questionnaire. Reliability testing
yielded a Spearman-Brown coefficient of 0.71, ensuring consistency in the instrument.
Data were analysed using statistical package for social sciences while frequency tables
and percentages were used to present results. Findings indicated that while students are
frequently exposed to social media content that promotes awareness against drug abuse,
many feel that current anti-drug efforts on these platforms are insufficient. Further
findings showed that social media also exposes students to content that glamorises drug
use, which can influence their peers. Most respondents suggested that sanctions on prodrug
content could help mitigate this exposure. The study concludes that while social
media has the potential to disseminate anti-drug messages widely, it is currently not
doing enough in curbing drug abuse. The study underscores the need for a strategic
approach to social media messaging on drug abuse, emphasising the potential of digital
platforms as powerful tools for health communication.