This study examined the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among young people living with HIV/AIDS (YPLWHIV/AIDS) attending the Antiretroviral Therapy and Counselling (ART & C) unit of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti. A descriptive cross-sectional design using quantitative methods was employed to capture substance-use behaviours at a single point in time. The study involved 204 participants aged 10–35 years, selected through a simple random sampling technique, and data were collected over eight weeks. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent or assent was secured. Findings revealed that alcohol and tobacco were the most commonly used substances, with substantial levels of recurrent desire reported, indicating potential for habitual use. Illicit substances such as cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, and opioids were infrequently used, while moderate use of prescription and locally available substances was observed. Sociodemographic factors, particularly gender, marital status, and age, significantly influenced substance-use patterns, with male, single, and young adult respondents exhibiting higher prevalence. Occupation, residence, and interactions between sociodemographic variables did not significantly affect substance use. These results highlight the need for targeted screening, behavioral interventions, and age- and gender-sensitive strategies within HIV care programs to reduce psychoactive substance use and improve health outcomes among YPLWHIV/AIDS.

Keywords: Psychoactive substance use, HIV/AIDS, Young people, Prevalence, ART & C unit, Nigeria,

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