ALCOHOL USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER AMONG YOUTHS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF ESSIEN UDIM IN THE POSTCOVID-19 ERA IN NIGERIA

The study focuses on alcohol use and mental health disorder among youths in rural communities
of Essien Udim in the post Covid-19 era in Nigeria. The aim is to bring into the limelight an
intervention strategy, via a community-based mental health approach, as an effective treatment
option for mental challenges. Survey method with Rapid Individual Unstructured Interview
(RIUI) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) had been adopted and used. Participants are social
workers in St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Centre, Ukana Iba, caregivers of affected persons, registered women, and youth groups. A simple random sampling procedure was used to select the participants. Data are analyzed using the qualitative approach to identify alcohol use disorder and rehabilitation interventions among youths in Essien Udim communities. Findings show a wide gap in the area of research, with no readily available information for public use. It also reinforces the need for a community-based intervention strategy to address knowledge gaps of alcohol use and mental health effect on the socio-economic livelihoods of the people