Determinants of substance use and the impact on mental health status, risky sexual and physical health behaviors among unmarried students

Objective: To assess the prevalence of substance use and its association with other risky behaviors among unmarried male students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at the University of Nigeria on the use of cigarette, alcohol and psychoactive drugs among students who resided off-campus. Questionnaires were analyzed using SPPS (Version-25). Descriptive statistics were utilized in summarizing the responses. The correlates and predictors of substances use were also determined. Results: A total of 491 students participated in the study (response rate = 98.1%). The prevalence of recent use of tobacco, psychoactive drugs, and alcohol was 28.1%, 20.6%, and 46.8% respectively. Also, 13% considered committing suicide, 22.4% were victims of sexual assault, while 56.1% experienced serious injury. Alcohol use (aOR = 0.078, [0.029-0.210], p < 0.001) and driving being drunk (aOR = 0.123, [0.030-0.503], p < 0.001) influenced the current use of tobacco. Previous suicide attempt (aOR = 5.765, [1.148-28.944], p < 0.05) was a predictor of alcohol use. Recent use of psychoactive drugs was influenced by their age and been driven by a drunk driver (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Unmarried male students exhibited high prevalence of substance use and other risky health behaviors. These risky substances use practices were also influenced by their age, risky sexual and physical practices induced by alcohol and mental health status.