A new report by the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed that university students primarily obtain drugs and substances from their friends, with lecturers also listed among the sources.
According to data released on Thursday, 66.4 percent of students reported that they accessed drugs through friends, while lecturers accounted for 39.4 percent. Other significant sources included neighborhood bars and canteens (59.3 percent), fellow students (56 percent), online platforms (39.4 percent), and institutional canteens or shops (39.4 percent).
The report also highlighted alarming levels of substance use among university students. Alcohol emerged as the most consumed substance, with 87.3 percent of students admitting to drinking, followed by cigarette use at 64.4 percent and shisha at 41.2 percent.
Other substances commonly used by students include vapes (31 percent), nicotine pouches (30.7 percent), kuber (23 percent), and snuff or chewed tobacco (22.1 percent).
The data further showed that:
- One in five university students had consumed alcohol in the past month.
- One in eight had used at least one form of tobacco in the last 30 days.
- One in 22 had used shisha within the past month.
- One in 17 had vaped or used e-cigarettes.
- One in 14 had smoked cigarettes.
- One in nine had consumed cannabis.
- One in 24 had used inhalants.
- One in 63 had used cocaine.
- One in 59 had used heroin.
The study was conducted among undergraduate students from both public and private universities across the country. NACADA interviewed 15,678 respondents, achieving a response rate of 99.7 percent.
Public university students made up 61.5 percent of the respondents, while those from private universities accounted for 38.5 percent. The survey also found that male students (54.2 percent) were more likely to use drugs compared to their female counterparts (45.2 percent).
NACADA’s findings have reignited concerns over drug accessibility on university campuses and the increasing role of social circles in substance abuse among students.
