INFLUENCE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ON DRUG ABUSE AMONG STREET CHILDREN IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS

Abstract

This study investigated assessment of psychoactive drug used and abused among street children in Makurdi metropolis in Benue State, Nigeria. The study employed ex-post facto research design. Two hundred (200) participants were randomly drawn from Makurdi metropolis in Benue State through stratified, convenience and simple random sampling methods. Self-esteem scale, social support scale and drug abuse screening scale were used for data collection. Three hypotheses were tested using multiple regression and simple linear regression analyses. The findings showed that self-esteem has no significant influence on psychoactive drug used among street children; however, the statistical values for each finding showed that social support has no significant influence on psychoactive drug used among street children. There was no significant joint influence of self-esteem and social support on substance abuse among street children. Based on these findings, it was concluded that self-esteem has no significant influence on psychoactive drug used among street children. Social support has no significant influence on psychoactive drug used among street children Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that parents and guardians should help children to identify and value themselves so as to boast their self-esteem. Parents, government, and NGOs should give support to children in order to encourage them by quitting drugs abuse. Children engaged in drug use are also encouraged to go for rehabilitation for proper treatment.