PREVALENCE AND USE OF CODEINE AS SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SOUTH - SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

Aim: To assess prevalence and use of codeine as substance of abuse among undergraduate 
students
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 380 students of Igbinedion 
University, Okada, Edo State. The respondents were selected by multistage sampling method; 
all the students were stratified based on the faculties, departments and year of study. The 
sampling ratio for each year of study was calculated and a proportional allocation was carried 
out. Simple random sampling was applied to select the number of students from each year of 
study by using table of random numbers. Structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered 
questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews were the tools used for data collection. Data was 
analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 and level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Result: About one quarter 88(23.2%) of the respondents were currently using codeine, 
160(42.1%) had used codeine in the past while above two third 276(72.6%) were aware of the 
additive potential of codeine. Majority 296(77.9%) of the respondents were aware of the 
harmful effect of codeine to self and the reasons for continuous usage varies from 
enhancement of performance 25(6.6%), for confidence 20 (5.3%) and leisure 7(1.8%).
Conclusion: About one quarter of the respondents were currently using codeine despite the 
fact that majority of the respondents were aware of the harmful effect of codeine to self. The 
health education program on codeine abuse and its associated problems should be directed 
more at undergraduates, and the accessibility to codeine drinks on campus should be regulated 
by appropriate authorities.