Exploration of the Nexus between suicide and substance use amongst undergraduate students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

This is an undergraduate social work research project that explored the relationship between substance use and suicide among undergraduate students in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The study used a cross-sectional approach combining questionnaires and in-depth interviews to examine factors contributing to substance use, its relationship with suicidal behavior, and the potential role of social workers in prevention. The findings highlighted depression, stress, financial difficulties, academic failure, and peer influence as important factors associated with substance use, while 76.5% of surveyed respondents believed substance use plays a role in suicide. The research ultimately emphasizes the importance of counseling, substance-use prevention, student education, and social work intervention in addressing substance use and suicide risk among university students.