GENDER DIFFERENTIALS IN THE UTILIZATION OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND PERCEIVED HEALTH EFFECTS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Methamphetamine use has caused serious public health issues globally. Despite the drug's widespread impact, little research has been conducted among vulnerable groups. This study therefore explored the utilization of Methamphetamine and perceived health effects among Secondary School adolescents in Ebonyi State. Methods: A descriptive survey design was used to study 400 participants. Utilization of Methamphetamine (r= 0.84) and Perceived Associated Health Implications (r= 0.90) were used for data collection. Of the 400 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 392 copies (98% return rate) were used for data analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, standard deviations, Gamma, t-test and linear regression statistics. Results: The results showed that public secondary school students in Abakaliki Education Zone utilize methamphetamine to a high extent (2.57±0.56), while the highest health implications were emotional (2.88±0.50) and social health implications (2.75±0.38). However, there is a positive moderate relationship between utilization of methamphetamine and perceived health implications (r = 0.543). Both male (2.60±0.55) and female (2.55± 0.56) students utilize methamphetamine to a great extent; thus, powered and crystal forms are the most used by both genders with emotional and social problems. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between utilization of methamphetamine and perceived health implications among the students (P<0.05), but no significant differences existed in utilization and perceived health implications by gender (P<0.05). Conclusion: Public secondary school students utilize methamphetamine to a great extent, and the highest implication was emotional problems. There is a need to organize an awareness campaign against methamphetamine use by school health educators to overcome emotional distress using media, thus targeting students to promote their emotional health.