GAR PUBLISHER

Peer influence is a very critical factor in the Relapse of youths that are recovering from substance addiction in Ibadan metropolis Nigeria. However, local evidence on the study is scarce in Ibadan metropolis. This study employed a scoping review design which is guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, to map existing global and Nigerian literature on the relationship between peer influence and Relapse. The reviewed studies were selected based on established criteria. Studies that focused solely on pharmacological treatment without social or behavioral analysis, as well as those unrelated to Relapse, were excluded. Searches were conducted manually through Google Scholar and Google across all accessible databases. A combination of relevant keywords and phrases were used. Approximately three hundred and fifty (350) studies were retrieved from the searches, seventy (70) were shortlisted for review. Finally, fifteen (15) studies were selected for the review. The reviewed studies are primarily cross-sectional (66.7%) and spanned 11 countries with sample sizes ranging from 34 to 915. Relapse rates ranged from 24% to 95% in the review and peer pressure is a significant relapse predictor. This often interacts with factors like unemployment, stigma, and family conflicts. However, positive peer support emerged as a protective factor in some studies. However, the result is generally limited in its applicability to youths in the Ibadan metropolis, primarily due to the scarcity of local studies on the topic. Also, there is an imbalance in gender representation in the study. The study concludes that peer influence is a significant predictor of Relapse globally and suggests targeted interventions, such as peer support groups and mindfulness-based programs. The study recommends that the Ministry of Health, NDLEA, and state rehabilitation centers should formalize peer-support components within rehabilitation policy.