Psychosocial and cultural dynamics shaping substance use and internet fraud among Nigerian youths

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has introduced new psychosocial risks for young people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, increasing rates of psychoactive substance use among youths have emerged alongside the growing prevalence of internet fraud ("Yahoo-Yahoo"), raising concerns about their interconnected social, psychological, and cultural drivers.

This study explored the relationship between psychoactive substance use and engagement in internet fraud among Nigerian youths, with particular attention to the social, economic, psychological, and cultural contexts shaping this association.

A qualitative design was employed using four focus group discussions with 22 young adults receiving treatment for substance-related mental and behavioural disorders at a tertiary health facility in southwestern Nigeria. Some participants reported direct or indirect involvement in internet fraud. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's framework.

Findings revealed a complex, bidirectional relationship between substance use and internet fraud, mediated by peer influence, economic marginalization, moral normalization, and culturally embedded expectations of success. Psychoactive substances were perceived as facilitating emotional coping, confidence, and endurance during fraudulent activities, while proceeds from cyber fraud often sustained continued substance use. Despite varying degrees of social acceptance, participants reported guilt, psychological distress, and significant mental health risks.

Psychoactive substance use and internet fraud among Nigerian youths appear less as isolated deviant behaviours and more as maladaptive coping strategies within contexts of structural inequality. There is an urgent need for integrated, youth-focused interventions that address mental health, family dynamics, and economic opportunities.