1. INVESTIGATION OF DETERMINANTS OF KNOWLEDGE AND
ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE AMONG
ADOLESCENTS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN IBADAN, OYO STATE
By
Oyewumi, Abebomi Ph.D
Department of Special Education,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
And
Adigun, Olufemi T.
Department of Special Education,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Substance use and abuse is a long standing major public health issue all over the world.
It has for long being an issue of debate among stakeholders in order to find a lasting
solution to its menace. The world health Organization (WHO, 2012) pointed out that
substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous, use of psychoactive substances,
including alcohol and illicit drugs.
 Psychoactive substance use can lead to dependence syndrome-a cluster of behavioural,
cognitive and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and
that typically include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use,
persisting in its use despite harmful consequences.
 Adolescents (those with hearing-impairment inclusive) may abuse substances such as
alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drugs for varied and complicated reasons ranging from
depression, isolation, and potential to belong to the highly placed gang among other.
 John and Paul (1995) observed deficits in social skills among adolescents who use and
abuse substance. Basically, attitude toward substance use has been found to have
correlation with personal self and environment or social influences (Hung, Yen and Wu,
2009).
 In other words, some factors are responsible for the use and abuse of various illicit
substances, the characteristics of the individual, the relationship with the friend, and the
contexts all may be important in leading the adolescent to conform to peer behavior.

3. •Introduction Cont’d
 Other variables such as perception of the harm of substance use, information seeking
behavior, self-esteem and a commitment to traditional social values have been shown to
be risk factors for substance use (Hawkins, Catalano and Miller, 1992; Petraitis, Flay
and Miller, 1995).
 Unfortunately, adolescents with hearing-impairment are in double jeopardy as a result of
their inability involves speech. Ademokoya and Oyewumi (2001) noted that one obvious
fact about this group is that they can hardly benefit from the general education
programmes.
 Falase and Oyewumi (2008) posited that individuals with hearing-impairment find their
bewilderment constrained by communication limitation due to hearing loss, and they
suffer relatively more when compared to other hearing adolescents because they lack
the ability to fully integrate themselves into a world of the hearing.
 Adolescents with hearing impairments are just like hearing counterparts in experiencing
turmoil characterized by the stage of adolescenthood. Although, they feel insecure but
often conform to certain behaviour which they pick or see in the environment.
 They tend to depend more on their colleagues with hearing loss (deaf culture), hearing
peers and media than to parents, teacher, and other adults for social recognition and
rewards.

4. Introduction Cont’d
 McCone (1982) estimated that in deaf population there may be 73,000 deaf alcoholics,
85,000 deaf heroine users, 147,000 deaf cocaine users and 110,000 deaf people who
use marijuana on regular basis.
 The United Nations (2008) observed that the inhalants are increasing among the
adolescents irrespective of any disability. NCETA (2004) reiterated that the most
common routes of administration are oral ingestion which is probably the most common
form of taking substances, chewing which is used for coca leaf, tobacco, betel-nut and
tea; Nasal insufflations which includes snuffing, nasal inhalation or snorting; smoking
and rectal administration commonly used in medical treatment, it is also a method
sometimes used by substance users.
 Adolescent substance use and abuse is determined by various factors in the person and
in the social environment. Researches provides evidence that drug use is associated
with personality traits such as self-esteem and social influence variables such as peer
pressure, parental attitude, family drug use, and genetic factors among others (Abood
and Conway, 1992).
 Lawrence and Gilbert (1995) observed that alcohol and drug use have been
hypothesized to negatively influence a wide array of social psychological and physical
facets of functioning.
 Abood and Conway (1992) found a relationship between self-esteem and health values,
and between self-esteem and tobacco or alcohol use while Gugliemo (1985) found out
that low self-esteem and familial environment are causatively linked to substance use
and abuse, and that the parent- child relationship provides the experiences from which
self esteem is learned.

5. Introduction Cont’d
 Both peers and family influence alcohol use over the child’s course of development
(Brian and Kate, 2001). Windle (2000) opined that rather than being supplanted by peer
influences, parental factors affect substance use. None the less, peer influences are
powerful determinant of late adolescent drinking behavior (Brian and Kate, 2001).
 Studies have found that alcohol, hypnosedatives, tobacco and psycho stimulants were
the commonly abused substances; with varying prevalence rate found for both overall
and specific substance use (Adelekan, 1989; Fatoye & Morakinyo , 2002; Abdulkarim,
Moluolu and Adeniyi; 2005).
 For instance, in Ilorin, Nigeria the life time prevalence rate of substance use among
secondary and university students was found to vary between 1.5% (for tobacco) and
47% (for psycho stimulants) (Abdulkarim, Mokuolu and Adeniyi, 2005).
 Currently, there is little or no research on the factors that is responsible for substance
use among the adolescents with hearing impairments. Therefore, this study tends to
investigate the determinants of knowledge and attitude to substance and abuse among
adolescents with hearing impairment.

6. Objectives of the Study
 The broad objective of the study is to investigate factors that determine
substance use and abuse among adolescents with hearing impairment.
 The study also examined the knowledge of adolescents with hearing
impairments about the effects of substance use and abuse
 The study investigated the knowledge of the availability and route of intake
of substances among adolescents with hearing impairment.

7. Research Questions
 Do adolescents with hearing impairment have knowledge about the effect of substance
use and abuse?
 What are the determinants of substance use and abuse among adolescents with hearing
impairment?
 Does adolescent with hearing impairment have knowledge about places where
substances are known to be available as well as its route of intake?
Research Hypotheses
 There will be no significant differences in the knowledge of adolescents with hearing
impairment who has high self esteem and those who have low self esteem towards
substance use and abuse.
 There will be no significant difference in the attitude towards use and abuse of
substances among adolescents with hearing impairment who has low and high self
esteem.

8. Research Methodology
The research design employed in this study was a survey research method. It was
directed at surveying the determinants of knowledge and attitude of substance use
among adolescents with hearing impairment.
Research Participants
The participants for the study were adolescents with hearing impairment found in
Ibadan. Two hundred and thirteen adolescents with hearing impairment participated in
the study and they were drawn from four special secondary schools within Ibadan.
Research instruments
The research made use of the Rosenberg Self Esteem scale to determine the level of
the self esteem of the participants. Also, a structured questionnaire was used in data
collection. The questionnaire were divided into section A, B, and C. Section A elicited
information about the biosocial characteristics of the participants, section B was on
substance use profile and section C dealt with the reason why adolescents with hearing
impairments uses and abuses substances.
Method of data analysis
Descriptive statistics involving frequency count, simple percentage, mean and standard
deviation as well as inferential statistics involving t- test was used to analysed the data
collected.

9. Biosocial Characteristics of the Participants
Male Female
Female
35%
Male
65%

10. Age distribution of
respondents
39 39
13 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 25 years
135

11. Research Question 1. Do adolescents with hearing impairment have knowledge about the effect
of substance use and abuse?
Table showing Knowledge of respondents about the effect of substance use and
abuse
Variables Yes % No % Mean Std
Hang over 67.6 32.4 1.68 0.469
Hallucination 67.6 32.4 1.68 0.469
Disorientation 69.0 31.0 1.69 0.494
Behavioral change 59.2 40.8 1.59 0.493
Loss of judgment 56.3 43.7 1.56 0.497
Sense of quilt 56.3 43.7 1.56 0.497
Increase blood 56.3 43.7 1.56 0.497
pressure
Drowsiness 53.5 46.5 1.54 0.500
Loss of control over 56.3 43.7 1.56 0.497
movement
quarrelsome 49.3 50.7 1.49 0.501
Chronic cough 54.9 45.1 1.55 0.499

12. The table reveals that hearing loss ( =2.68), depression ( =2.52), deaf culture/friends
(=2.89), and peer influences ( =2.51) all account for the reasons why adolescents with
hearing Impairment indulge in the habit of using and the abuse of substances. The result
on table 3 shows that loneliness, dejection or rejection of adolescents with hearing
impairment which account for ( =2.30); and inability to do without substance use ( =2.03)
are not factors that influence the use and abuse of substances among adolescents with
hearing impairments.

13. Research Question 2: What are the determinants of substance use and abuse among adolescents
with hearing impairment?
Table showing the response of respondents on the reasons for substance use and abuse
Items SA A D SD Mean StD
My hearing loss gives me much 35.2 18.3 25.4 21.1 2.68 1.163
concern
I always feel depressed 12.7 43.7 26.8 16.9 2.52 0.919
I prefer to be among friend with 28.2 45.1 14.1 12.7 2.89 0.960
hearing impairment
I use substances when I feel lonely, 16.9 29.6 19.7 33.8 2.30 1.108
dejected or rejected by hearing people
Some of my friends use and abuse 28.2 28.2 23.9 19.7 2.65 1.092
substances
I function best in groups when I make 26.5 22.5 25.4 25.4 2.51 1.139
use of substances
I cannot do without the use of 12.7 22.4 19.7 19.7 2.03 1.090
substances

14. Knowledge of availability of substances
43.7
73.2
Slums
Shops selling
Beer/Cigarettes
Shops selling traditional
69
medicine
Pharmacies
80.3

15. % Response on routes of substance intake
56.3 56.3
Sniffing with cigarette
Chewing
swallowing
53.5 Drinking
74.6 Injecting
50.7

16. Research hypothesis 1: there will be no significant differences in the knowledge of
adolescents with hearing impairment who has high self esteem and those who have low
self esteem towards substance use and abuse
Table of Self-esteem and knowledge about the use and abuse of substances
Knowledge Mean (X) StD Df t-cal t-critical Sig
N
Low self 123 13.804 2.242
esteem
211 2.357 1.960 S
High self 90 133.333 2.824
Esteem

17. The result on the table indicates that there is a significant difference in the knowledge of
substance use and abuse among adolescents with hearing impairments who have low
self-esteem and those who have high self-esteem. This is indicated by the value of t-
calculated value (2.357) which is greater than the t-critic (t-cal=2.357, t-critic=1.960,
P<=0.05). Therefore, the null hypothesis is hereby rejected.
Research hypothesis 2: there will be no significant difference in the attitude towards
use and abuse of substances among adolescents with hearing Impairment who has low
and high self esteem.

18. Table showing analysis of result on substance use and self esteem of
adolescents with hearing impairment
Usability N Mean (X) StD Df t-cal t-critic Sig
Low self 123 10.804 1.777
esteem
High self 90 10.500 1.794 211 2.232 1.960 S
Esteem
The table shows that self esteem have influence on the attitude towards use and abuse of
substances among adolescents with hearing impairment. This is indicated by the value
of t-calculated value (2.232) which is greater than the t-critic (t-cal=2.232,
t-critic=1.960, P<=0.05). Therefore, the null hypothesis is hereby rejected.

19. Discussion of Results
 This study corroborates the findings of Syed, Rana, Shamim, Annes and Sara (2002)
who reported that schooling adolescents are aware of the harmful effect of substance
use and abuse on the body and the society.
 The finding negates the assertion of Hawkins, Catalano, and Miller (1992) and
Petraitis, Flay and Miller (1995) who noted that perception of harm of substance use,
information seeking behavior, self esteem and a commitment to traditional social
values are risk factors for substance use.
 The result corroborate with the findings of Syed et al (2002) found that school going
adolescents are aware that additive drugs can be obtained from slums, Shop selling
cigarettes/Betel leaves, Some specific couriers, shops selling traditional Medicine,
Pharmacies and other means.
 This finding lends support to the submission of Hawkins, Catalano. And Miller
(1992) who identified self esteem as a risk factors for substance use
 This finding supports Gugliemo (1985) who found that low self esteem and familiar
environment are causatively linked to substance use and abuse.

20. Conclusion
The study revealed that factors resident in the person (adolescents with
hearing impairments) as well as some environmental factors affect the
use and abuse of substances among adolescents with hearing
impairment. The use and abuse of substance have posed various
challenges to the well being of adolescents with hearing impairment.
Recommendation
 All stakeholders and professionals working with adolescents with hearing
impairment should discourage them from the use and abuse of substances.
 Counselors, Teachers, Peers and other family members should help to
develop the self esteem of adolescents with hearing impairments and they
should not be exposed to environment where substances are being used and
abused.
 All stakeholders and professionals working with adolescents with hearing
impairment should develop programs that aim to create awareness about
the effects of substance use and abuse and its impact on their wellbeing.

21. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING