CURBING DRUG ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN UKWUANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF DELTA STATE THROUGH COUNSELLING STRATEGIES

The study examined curbing drug abuse among secondary school students through counselling strategies. Five research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The descriptive survey design was utilized for the study. A total of 225 teachers constituted the sample for this study. The population of the study comprised all school teachers’ teachers in Ukwuani, Delta State Nigeria. Consensus samplings method was used in the study since all the 16 public secondary schools in Ukwuani, Delta State constituted the sample size. Random sampling techniques were used to select 14 teachers from each of the schools chosen for the study. A total of 224 teachers constituted the sample size for this study. The research instrument employed for data collection was structured questionnaire titled: Curbing Drug Abuse among Secondary School Students with Appropriate counselling Strategies Inventory (CDBAASI). The data collected were analyzed with frequency distribution table, descriptive statistics and the independent sample test (IST). Hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significant levels. The outcome of the study revealed that there there are many causes and also numerous signs of drug abuse among secondary school students. There are adverse consequences of drug abuse among secondary school students. There are numerous counselling therapies that can reduce drug addiction and abuse among secondary school students. There is a difference between male and female respondents on the viable counselling strategies that are capable of reducing drug abuse among secondary school students in Ukwuani of Delta State. Conclusion was drawn and useful recommendations made, that school counsellors be provided with skills on how to handle students with drug abuse problems using appropriate counselling therapies and strategies. They should always organize lectures, rallies, seminars and film shows for students on the adverse effects of drug abuse.