Niger J Paed 2015; 42 (1): 39 – 45

ORIGINAL

Alex-Hart BA

Prevalence of alcohol

Opara PI

Okagua J

consumption among secondary

school students in Port Harcourt,

Southern Nigeria

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njp.v42i1,9

Accepted: 13th October 2014

Abstract:

Background:

Con-

very frequently drunk. The behav-

sumption of alcohol by secondary

iour which showed a strong asso-

Alex-Hart BA

(

)

school students is a major public

ciation with drinking of alcohol,

Opara PI, Okagua J

health concern globally, but its

being drunk and the frequency of

Department of Paediatrics,

prevalence is not known in secon-

being drunk was going out in the

University of Port Harcourt

Teaching Hospital,

dary schools in Port Harcourt.

evening for fun and recreation.

P.M.B 6173, Port Harcourt, Rivers

Objective:

To

determine

the

Gender showed a positive associa-

State, Nigeria.

prevalence and factors associated

tion with drinking of alcohol, as

Email:balaalexhart@ymail.com

with alcohol use among secondary

more males drank alcohol with in

school students in Port Harcourt.

the past 30 days compared to the

Methods: This was a cross sec-

females (p=0.000). Smoking of

tional school based study con-

cigarette in the past 30 days and

ducted in Port Harcourt in March

truancy were positively associated

2014. A 20 itemed structured, self

with being drunk, while academic

-administered questionnaire was

grades showed an inverse relation-

distributed to 1080 senior secon-

ship with consumption of alcohol.

dary 1 to 3 students from 10 pub-

Majority of those who drank alco-

lic secondary schools selected

hol (42.6%) were experimenting

through

Multistage

Sampling

with alcohol, though 5.4% drank

technique. Questions asked cov-

due to addiction. Majority (39.3%)

ered drinking of alcohol, fre-

bought their drinks from stores and

quency of drinking and being

supermarkets. The most Common

drunk in the past 30 days before

problems

experienced

by

the

the

survey.

Other

behaviours

drinkers

were

fatigue,

alcohol

sought were smoking of cigarette,

made them behave in ways they

use of cocaine and going out in

later regretted and it hurt their rela-

the

evening

for

fun.

Socio-

tionships.

demographic was also sought.

Conclusion: Alcoholism is a seri-

Data was analyzed using SPSS

ous

problem

with

secondary

version 20.

school students in Port Harcourt. It

Results: 1080 students partici-

is linked with truancy, poor aca-

pated in the study, mean age

demic achievement and other sub-

16.09±6SD and male to female

stances use. The most serious

ratio of 0.9: 1. Prevalence of cur-

health and social problem experi-

rent drinking of alcohol was

enced by the drinkers is addiction.

30.6% and 38.1% of current

drinkers were also drunk in the

Key words: Prevalence, Alcohol,

past 30 days, with 17.2 % being

Secondary school, Consumption,

Introduction

same report showed that the prevalence of monthly

Heavy Drinking Episodes (HED) among adolescence 15

Consumption of alcohol by underage adolescents is a

to 19 years was 11.7% globally; 31.2%, 18.4%, 12.5%

major public health problem confronting many high,

and 6.3% in Europe, America, Western Pacific Region

and Africa respectively . In California, nearly 1.3 mil-

1

middle and low income countries globally . In 2010, the

1

World Health Organization’s Regional Report on alco-

lion youths between the ages of 12 to 25 years were in-

volved in binge drinking . Binge drinking for males is

2

hol showed that the proportion of adolescents 15 to 19

years currently drinking alcohol was 34.1% globally;

consuming five or more and for females consuming four

or more drinks of alcohol within two hours .

3

69.5%, 52.7%, 37.3% and 29.3% in Europe, America,

Western Pacific Region and Africa respectively . The

1

40

In Brazil, Malta et al reported that 71.4% of nine graders

and many students were eager to be included in the

had experimented with alcohol, 27.3% consumed alco-

study.

hol regularly within the past 30 days preceding the sur-

vey and 22.1% had already been drunk. In Kenya,

4

A 20 itemed, self-administered, structured questionnaire

Waweru et al reported that the age at first alcohol con-

was distributed to the selected students. Questions were

sumption among 14 to 18 year old students was 12 to 14

adapted from the alcohol section of the Monitoring The

Future (MTF) study.

14

years for majority (29%) and below 12 years for 23.2%

Respondents were asked to state

of the current users of alcohol. In Nigeria, in-depth

5

if they had drunk alcohol – more than just a sip in the

study on alcohol consumption by secondary school stu-

past 30 days and if they had been drunk in the past 30

dents is scarce. Majority of the studies done concen-

days. Frequency of drinking and being drunk was

trated on substances use generally .

6.7

sought. Other behavioural problems sought included

smoking of cigarette, using cocaine, going out in the

Consumption of alcohol by adolescents and young

evenings for fun and truancy. Socio-demographic infor-

adults has a mirage of problems which has negative im-

mation was also sought. Questions were pretested with

pact on the health of the population. It is a major risk

70 SS 1 to SS3 students from a secondary school not

factor for cardiovascular diseases, car accidents and

included in the study and the results were also not in-

homicides, which have been recognized as the leading

cluded in the study. To ensure that the students’ re-

causes of deaths among adolescents and young adults in

sponses were as truthful as possible, they were told not

the United States of America (USA).

4,8,9

Globally, alco-

to write their names or any other means of identification.

hol is responsible for 3.2% of all deaths annually and

They were also informed that their information would be

5% of deaths in people between the ages of 5 and 29

treated as strictly confidential. Additionally the teachers

years.

10,11

Many of these deaths resulted from injuries

were not involved in the data collection.

caused by heavy drinking. Starting to drink at an early

10

For the purpose of the study, these definitions were

age has also been associated with alcohol dependence

used; Being drunk a few times means 2 times or less,

during adult life, unintentional injuries such as falls,

frequently means 3 to 4 times and very frequently is

burns and drowning and with increased tendencies to-

regarded as 5 or more times, current drinkers were those

wards involvement in unprotected sex

3,5,12

.

who drank alcohol in the past 30 days before the survey.

There is paucity of data on alcohol use among secondary

Going out in the evenings for fun is regarded as having a

school students in Port Harcourt and this may have a

social gathering with peers in the evenings anywhere

serious implication on the success of any intervention

outside the school premises. To experiment with alcohol

programme aimed at addressing this problem. The main

means to take alcohol just to know how it tastes and

aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and

how one feels after drinking it. Data was analyzed using

factors associated with alcohol use among secondary

SPSS version 20. Results are presented using descriptive

school students in Port Harcourt.

statistics. Chi Square Test was used for test of signifi-

cance. Only p values less than 0.05 were considered

statistically significant.

Methodology

Ethical approval: Ethics Committee of University of

Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Administrative

This is a cross sectional school based study conducted in

heads of each school gave approval for the study.

Port Harcourt Metropolis in March 2014. Port Harcourt

Consent: Written informed consent was obtained from

Metropolis is the capital of Rivers State, situated in

the parents of the respondents.

Southern Part of Nigeria. There are 30 public senior

secondary schools in Port Harcourt Metropolis. These

schools were stratified into Co-educational, all-boys and

all-girls senior secondary schools. Altogether, there

Results

were 18 co-educational, 6 all-boys and 6 all-girls

schools, in a ratio of 3:1:1. Based on this ratio, 6 coedu-

One thousand and eighty students participated in the

cational, 2 all-boys and 2 all-girls schools were ran-

study, ages between 12 to 24 years and mean age

domly selected for this study. This gave a total of ten

16.09±1.6SD.There were 525 (48.6%) males and 555

selected senior secondary schools. From the 10 selected

(51.4%)

females,

with

male:

female

ratio

of

schools, an arm was randomly selected from the senior

0.9:1.Majority (75.8%) of the mothers and fathers

secondary 1 to 3 classes and the first 36 students from

(81.8%) had secondary education and above. Majority

the class register in the selected arms were included in

(59.4 %,) of the students lived with both parents and all

the study. This gave a total of 108 students per school.

were day students.

The minimum sample size N calculated for this study

Three hundred and thirty-one (30.6%) students had more

using the Fisher’s Formula N=Z PQ/d is 384, where

13

2

2

than just a sip of alcohol in the last 30 days preceding

Z=a constant which is 1.96 at 95% Confidence Interval,

the survey, out of which 236 (71.3%) had it just a few

P=Prevalence=48.9% reported in a previous study ,

5

times, 38 (11.5%) had it frequently and 57(17.2%) had it

Q=100-P, D=absolute precision or sampling error toler-

very frequently.

ated=5%. Eventually 1080 students were recruited in the

study because the secondary school population is large

Out of 331 students who took alcohol, one hundred and

41

tionship with consumption of alcohol ( χ =2.966,

2

twenty-six (38.1%) students had been drunk with alco-

hol in the last 30 days preceding the survey, out of

p=0.888). Alcohol consumption among students whose

which 105 (83.3%, 105/126) had been drunk just a few

grades were less than 50%, 50 to 60%, 70 to 80% and

times, 7 (5.6%, 7/126) had been drunk frequently and 14

above 80%

was 36.5% (135/370), 33.3% (60/180) ,

(11.1%, 14/126) had been drunk very frequently.

27.2% (102/375) and 26.7%(28/105) respectively. This

is statistically significant ( χ =8.885, p=0.031). Attending

2

Table 1`shows the relationship between drinking of al-

religious services had no relationship with alcohol con-

sumption ( χ =6.407, p=0.171).

2

cohol in the past 30 days and some variables. A higher

proportion (50%, 3/6) of students within the age group

There is no statistically significant association between

21 to 25 years consumed alcohol in the past 30 days

age group and the frequency of alcohol consumption.

preceding the survey, compared to 30.7% (207/674) and

However, a higher proportion of the 16 to 20 years age

30.3% (121/400) of the age groups 16 to 20 years and 11

group consumed alcohol very frequently (20.3%,

to 15 years respectively. This is however not statistically

42/207), compared to the 11 to 15 years (12.4%, 15/121)

and the 21 to 25 years (0.0%, 0/3) age groups ( χ =3.876,

2

significant. There is statistically significant association

between consumption of alcohol and gender, more

p=0.367).Gender also had no statistically significant

males (36.6%, 192/525) than females (25%, 139/555)

association with frequency of alcohol consumption,

consumed alcohol. Smoking of cigarette in the past 30

though more males (19.8%, 38/192) consumed alcohol

days and use of marijuana in the past 2 months before

more frequently compared to the females (13.7%,

19/139), ( χ =2.996, p=0.224)

2

the survey have no statistically significant association

with alcohol consumption. There is a statistically signifi-

cant association between going out in the evening for

Table 2 shows the relationship between being drunk and

fun and alcohol consumption. A higher proportion

some variables. A higher proportion (33.3%, 1/3) of

(57.1%, 60/150) of students who went out in the evening

students between the ages of 21 to 25 years were drunk

for fun for 4 days or more within a week consumed alco-

in the past 30 days preceding the survey, compared to

hol, compared to 28.8% (172/597) who went out for 1

the other age groups. This is however not statistically

day and 31.5% (56/178) who went out for 2 to 3 days in

significant. More males (25.1%, 75/299) than females

a week.

(21.6%, 51/236) were drunk in the past 30 days before

the survey. This is also not statistically significant. Out

Table 1: Relationship between drinking alcohol- more than just

of the 15 students who smoked cigarette and consumed

a few sips in the past 30 days and some variables.

alcohol in the 30 days preceding the survey, 13 (86.7%)

Variable

Drank Alcohol

Total (%)

χ

2

Pvalue

were also drunk. This is statistically significant. Going

Age (YRS)

No (%)

Yes (%)

out in the evening for fun has a positive relationship

11-15

279 (69.8)

121(30.3)

400 (100)

with being drunk. A higher proportion (39.5%, 32/81) of

16-20

467 (69.3)

207 (30.7)

674 (100)

1.088

0.580

21-25

3 (50.0)

3 (50.0)

6 (100)

students who went out for 4 or more evenings within the

Total

749 (69.4)

331 (30.6)

1080

week for fun was drunk. Being drunk in the past 30 days

(100)

preceding the survey was also positively associated with

Gender

truancy. Four (80%) out of the 5 students who missed

Male

333 (63.4)

192 (36.6)

525 (100)

Female

416 (75.0)

139 (25.0)

555 (100)

16.86

0.000

school for 2 weeks or more within the past 4 weeks pre-

4

ceding the survey, were also drunk in the past 30 days

Total

749 (69.4)

331 (30.6)

1080

before the survey .

(100)

Smoked Cigarette in the past 30 days

Yes

20 (57.1)

15 (42.9)

35 (100)

2.537

0.111

Table 3 shows the relationship between the frequency of

No

729 (69.8)

316 (30.2)

1045

being drunk and some variables. A higher proportion

(100)

(13.8%, 12/87) of students within the 16 to 20 years age

Used Marijuana in the past 2 months

group were very frequently drunk in the past 30 days

Yes

28 (66.7)

14(33.3)

42 (100)

0.148

0.700

No

721 (69.5)

317 (30.5)

1038

preceding the survey, compared to the other age groups.

(100)

This is not significant statistically. There is no signifi-

Sniffed Cocaine

cant association between gender and the frequency of

Yes

35 (62.5)

21 (37.5)

56 (100)

1.305

0.253

being drunk, though more males (14.7%, 11/75) than

No

714 (69.7)

310 (30.3)

1024

(100)

females (5.9%, 3/51) were very frequently drunk. Going

Frequency of Going out in the evening for fun in a week

out in the evening for fun and recreation is significantly

Never

157 (78.5)

43 (21.5)

200 (100)

associated with being very frequently drunk, 21.9%

went out

(7/32) of students who went out for 4 or more days in

1 day

425 (71.2)

172 (28.8)

597 (100

2 to 3 days

122 (68.5)

56 (31.5)

178 (100)

43.55

0.000

the evenings in a week for fun were very frequently

6

drunk.

4 days or

45 (42.9)

60 (57.1)

150 (100)

Out of the 331 (30.6) students who were currently

more

drinking alcohol, 130 (39.3%) bought the alcoholic

Total

749 (69.4)

331 (30.6)

1080

(100)

drinks from the shops, supermarkets and vendors, 112

(33.8%) were given by friends, 50 (15.1%) drank from

their parents collections at home and 39 (11.9%) drank

Parental level of education had no relationship with al-

at parties and other social gatherings.

cohol consumption ( χ =8.696, p=0.069). Living with

2

both or single parents or other relatives also had no rela-

42

Table 2: Relationship between being drunk and some

Table 4 shows the students’ reasons for drinking alco-

variables

hol. Majority of the students who drank alcohol, did it to

Drunk with alcohol

Total

χ

2

Variable

P value

experiment, to see what it is like (42.6%, 141/331), just

Age

No

Yes

to have good time with friends (38.7%, 128/331) and to

11-15

155 (80.3)

38 (19.7)

193 (100)

16-20

252 (74.3)

87 (25.7)

339 (100)

2.59

0.288

be able to sleep (23.6%, 78/331). Eighteen (5.4%) re-

9

ported drinking because they were already addicted to

21-25

2 (66.7)

1 (33.3)

3 (100)

alcohol. Out of the 18 (5.4%) students who are addicted

Total

409 (76.4)

126 (23.6)

535 (100)

to alcohol, 17 (94.4%) belonged to the 16 to 20 age

Sex

groups.

Male

224 (74.9)

75 (25.1)

299 (100)

Female

185 (78.4)

51 (21.6)

236 (100)

0.88

0.347

4

Table 4: Students’ reasons for drinking alcohol

Total

409 (76.4)

126 (23.6)

535 (100)

Students’ reasons for drinking alcohol

No of students

% of 331

Smoked cigarette in the past 30 days

Yes

2 (13.3)

13 (86.7)

15(100)

15.7

0.000

To experiment, see what it’s like

141

42.6

41

To have a good time with friends

128

38.7

No

203 (64.2)

113 (35.8)

316 (100)

To get sleep

78

23.6

Frequency of Going out in the evening for fun in a week

To feel good and get high

61

18.4

Never

56 (75.7)

18 (24.3)

74 (100)

Because it tastes good

50

15.1

went out

Because of anger or frustration

50

15.1

1 day

235 (79.9)

59 (201)

294 (100)

To get away from my problems or troubles

26

7.9

2 to 3

69 (80.2)

17 (19.8)

86 (100)

14.1

0.003

Because of boredom, nothing else to do

25

7.6

days

42

To relax or relieve tension

23

6.9

4 days or

49 (60.5)

32 (39.5)

81 (100)

Because I am hooked

18

5.4

more

Total

409 (76.4)

126 (23.6)

535 (100)

Table 5 shows the problems experienced by the students

Skipping school in the past 4 weeks

who drank alcohol. Majority reported that drinking alco-

Never

87 (79.8)

22 (20.2)

109 (100)

hol caused them to have less energy (51.7%, 171/331),

skipped

to behave in ways they later regretted (48%, 159/331)

school

1 day

256 (78.0)

72 (22.0)

328 (100)

and hurt their relationships with their parents, teachers

2 to 4

50 (71.4)

20 (28.6)

70 (100)

and friends (36.3%, 120/331).

days

5 to 7

9 (64.3)

5 (35.7)

14 (100)

12.6

0.027

Table 5: Problems experienced by students who drank alcohol

days

10

Problems experienced by students

No of students

% of 331

More than

6 (66.7)

3 (33.3)

9 (100)

1 week

Caused you to have less energy

171

51.7

2 weeks

1 (20.0)

4 (80.0)

5 (100)

Caused you to behave in ways you later regretted

159

48.0

and more

Hurt your relationship with your parents, teachers

120

36.3

and friends

Hurt your performance in school

76

23.0

Table 3: Relationship between frequency of being drunk and

Interfered with your ability to think clearly

71

21.5

some variables

Caused you to be less stable emotionally

61

18.4

Vari-

Frequency of being drunk

Total

χ

2

P

Caused your physical health to be bad

49

14.8

able

value

Involved you with people you think are bad influ-

46

13.9

Few times

Fre-

Very

ence

quently

frequently

Caused you to drive unsafely

24

7.3

Got you in trouble with the police

23

6.9

Age

11-15

34(89.5)

2(5.3)

2(5.3)

38

Note: There were multiple responses

(100)

16-20

70(80.5)

5(5.7)

12(13.8)

87

3.86

0.499

(100)

6

21-25

1(100)

0(0.0)

0(0.0)

1

( 100)

Discussion

Total

105(83.3)

7(5.6)

14(11.1)

126

(100)

Most secondary school students in Nigeria are in the

Sex

adolescence period, characterized by experimentation

Male

59(78.7)

5(6.7)

11(14.7

75

(100)

and acquisition of behaviours which carry high risk of

Female

46(90.2)

2(3.9)

3(5.9)

51

3.00

0.223

morbidity and mortality. So it is not surprising that

(100)

4

30.6% of the students in this study were currently drink-

Total

105(83.3)

7(5.6)

14(11.1)

126

ing alcohol, though the legal drinking age in Nigeria is

(100)

18 years . This differs from the 9.2% and 65% reported

15

Going out in the evening for fun in a week

in Lagos and Rivers States in Nigeria respectively, but

6

7

Never

17(94.4)

0(0.0)

1(5.6)

18

went

(100)

is similar to the 31.6% prevalence rate reported in

out

EnuguStates

16

also in Nigeria, though the rates in these

1 day

53(89.8)

1(1.7)

5(8.5)

59

(100)

previous studies reflected the proportion of those who

2 to 3

14(82.4)

2(11.8)

1(5.9)

17

11.2

0.042

used alcohol, out of a total population of those who

days

(100)

80

abuse substances in general. This prevalence is higher

4 days

21(65.6)

4(12.5)

7(21.9)

32

than the 27.3%, 15.3%, 15.1% , 10.4% and 5.7% preva-

or

(100)

lence rates reported in Brazil, Ghana, Iran , Ethio-

4

17

18

more

pia andIndia respectively. These differences may be

19

20

Total

105(83.3)

7(5.6)

14(11.1)

126

(100)

43

related to differences in implementations of laws regu-

also be a two way relationship. Frustration from re-

lating drinking age. For though the drinking age of alco-

peated poor academic performance may also lead a stu-

hol in Nigeria is 18 years , results from previous studi-

15

dent into alcoholism.

es

6,7

showed that this law is not being implemented. The

Our study is consistent with other studies

18,14,23,25,29

prevalence of current use of alcohol is however lower

than the prevalence rate of current use of alcohol of

which found a strong association between cigarette

37.7% reported among Georgian high school stu-

smoking and heavy drinking. Majority (86.7%) of those

dents and 38.7% reported in a national survey in

21

who smoked and drank alcohol in the past 30 days be-

USA . These previous studies were states and national

22

fore the survey also got drunk within that same period.

surveys with large sample sizes, this may account for the

This is not surprising because there is evidence that al-

differences in observations, but it shows that alcohol

cohol use precedes the use of cigarettes and other illicit

drugs . Alcohol is thus regarded by researches as a

14

consumption among adolescents is a problem in Port

“gate way” drug . Additionally, the results of a previ-

14

Harcourt as in other parts of the world.

ous study showed that adolescents who are binge drink-

The fact that more than a third of those who drank alco-

ers are also likely to be smokers and verse vasa and

hol 30 days before the survey were also drunk within

those who abstain from the use of one of these sub-

stances also abstain from the other .

29

that period (with 11.1% of them drunk very frequently)

shows the enormity of the problem. Such heavy drinking

by adolescents could result into alcohol-related harm .

1

The study revealed a positive association between tru-

Additionally, early initiation of alcohol use is a risk fac-

ancy and being drunk. More than three quarter of those

tor for alcohol dependence and abuse later in life .

1,3

who were absent from school for 2 weeks or more

within the past 4 weeks prior to the survey, were also

The study did not show any statistically significant asso-

drunk within that same period. Other researchers re-

ported similar observations

5,13,25

ciation between age and consumption of alcohol, though

, supporting World

the older age groups were more involved with alcohol

Health Organization’s recognition of Alcoholism among

students as one of the causes of truancy in schools .

8

than the younger age group. Similar observations have

been reported by Waweru et al O’Malley et al

5

14

and

Implementation of alcohol-related public policies in

5,17,18,14,24

Windle . This study agrees with other studies

23

USA helped reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-

related traffic fatalities among young Americans

23,30

which reported higher rates of drinking among males

. In

compared to females. This may be due to the fact that

Nigeria, although the minimum legal drinking and pur-

drinking of alcohol is regarded as a masculine behav-

chasing age for alcohol is 18 years, this is not being im-

plemented (especially in Southern Nigeria)

15

iour, and alcohol consumption in an all-male group af-

as is re-

firms the privilege of being a man .

24

flected in the findings in this study. Majority of those

who drank alcohol within 30 days either purchased it

In this study, the behavior which showed the strongest

directly from stores, supermarkets and other vendors

and most consistent positive association with alcohol

(39.3%) or were given by their peers (33.8%). Studies in

other African countries had similar observations

5,17

consumption was the number of evenings respondents

.

reported going out with peers for fun and recreation in a

week. The highest proportion of those who drank alco-

The adolescent period is a time of adventure, sensation

seeking, taking on new challenges and risks . It is there-

31

hol, who got drunk and who got drunk very frequently

in the past 30 days preceding the survey were among

fore not surprising that the commonest reasons for

those who went out for four or more evenings within a

drinking alcohol in this study are for experimentation

week with peers for fun and recreation. A similar obser-

and to have a good time, whilst 5.4% highlighted that

vation had also been reported from previous studies

14, 25

.

they were addicted. All these reasons and more have

This may be explained by the findings of Jernigan that

26

been previously reported

5,23

. In this study, those who

young drinkers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa,

reported being alcohol addicts belong to the older age

believe that drinking of alcohol is essential to having a

groups (16-20 and 21-25 years), meaning that these stu-

good time and that the purpose of drinking is to get

dents may have started drinking at very young ages,

drunk. This finding also supports the report of Munyua

unfortunately the onset age at drinking of alcohol was

et al that peer influence contributes to alcoholism in

not explored in this study.

school .

27

The most common alcohol-related problems reported by

The study further revealed an inverse relationship be-

the respondents were causing them to have less energy

tween grades and alcohol consumption. The highest pro-

to carry out day to day activities, hurting their relation-

portion of drinkers was among those whose grades were

ship with their parents, teachers and friends and making

below average, showing that alcohol has a negative im-

them behave in ways they later regretted. These regret-

pact on educational achievements. O’Malley et al ,

14

ted actions were however not explored. Surprisingly, no

and Hingson et al

28

Merline et al

25

also made similar

student reported a serious medical and social condition

observations and this finding confirms the statement of

like addiction as a problem, though eighteen (5.4%) stu-

Windle

23

that drinking at an early age results into poor

dents reported drinking because of it. This shows that

school performance. This inverse relationship between

the students did not regard addiction as a problem.

Several studies

3,4,5,8,9, 14,17

alcohol consumption and academic performance may

have also highlighted these

44

alcohol-related social, psychological and even medical

markets. The most serious problem experienced by the

problems among adolescents.

drinkers was addiction.

Conflict of interest: None

Funding: None

Conclusion

Recommendations

In conclusion, alcoholism is a serious problem in secon-

dary schools in Port Harcourt. This behavior is worse

Alcohol prevention programs should be implemented by

with the boys compared to the girls. Going out in the

Rivers State Government in all the secondary schools in

evening for fun and recreation, truancy and smoking of

Port Harcourt. The Federal Government of Nigeria

cigarette show positive relationships with students’ alco-

should enforce the legal drinking and purchasing age of

hol behaviours, while academic grades showed an in-

18 years. Healthy extra-curricular activities should be

verse relationship with alcohol behaviours. Majority of

organized by all the secondary schools in Port Harcourt

those who drank were experimenting with alcohol and

to minimize the frequency of going out for fun and rec-

majority bought their drinks from the stores and super-

reations in the evenings.

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