Psychosocial Variables as Correlates of Crystal Methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri) Consumption among the Youths in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State: Counselling Imperatives

Rebecca Eyiuche Aghadinazu

Psychosocial Variables as Correlates of Crystal Methamphetamine (Mkpuru mmiri) Consumption among the Youths in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State: Counselling Imperatives

Rebecca Eyiuche Aghadinazu

Abstract

The study investigated psychosocial variables as correlates of crystal methamphetamine consumption among the youths in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State. The design of the study was correlational research design. The population of the study consisted of 5,300 youths selected from Awka metropolis. A sample of 530 youths were randomly selected from four Local Government Areas in Awka and used for the study. An instrument titled Psychosocial and Crystal Methamphetamine Assessment Scale (PCMAS) which was validated by three experts from the fields of Psychology and Counselling / Measurement and Evaluation Departments Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State was used for data collection. The validity of the instrument was conducted using the internal consistency validity method. The instrument was trial tested on ten adolescents who were selected from two Local Government Areas outside the study area. Cronbach Alpha Statistics was used to establish the reliability of the instrument and the reliability coefficient of .78 was gotten. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was used to answer the research questions while ANCOVA statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that psychosocial variables such as depression, loneliness, hopelessness, lack of social support correlate with crystal methamphetamine consumption among the youths in Awka Metropolis. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that the variables such as social support, loneliness, hopelessness and depression are correlated to crystal methamphetamine. Based on the conclusion, it was recommended among others that a well packaged group counselling programme tailored towards teaching the youths who are vulnerable to feeling of hopelessness, loneliness and depression the strategies to adopt to overcome such problems. Counselling imperatives were also highlighted.

Keywords

Methamphetamine; consumption; loneliness; depression.

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