EXPOSURE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NDLEA’S SOCIAL MEDIA ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN AMONG YOUTH IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Drug abuse among Nigerian youth remains a significant public health issue, necessitating effective communication strategies for prevention. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has increasingly leveraged social media platforms to disseminate drug abuse prevention messages. However, the extent of youth perception, engagement, and behavioral adherence to these messages, particularly in localized contexts such as the Ojo Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, remains unclear. This study evaluated youth's perception, attitude, and engagement with NDLEA’s social media messages on drug abuse prevention and assessed whether these messages influenced behavior. A quantitative research approach was employed, using a structured questionnaire to collect data from 662 youth in Ojo LGA. The findings indicated that youth generally perceived the messages as clear, relevant, and effective, but engagement, adherence, and knowledge levels were moderate. The study recommended targeted social media strategies, community engagement, and collaborations with social groups and NGOs to enhance engagement and promote sustained behavioral change.