Young adult building artisans’ involvement in illicit substances: the implications for SDGs 3 and 8

Abstract

PURPOSE: The health and well-being of young adult building artisans are germane because of their critical role in infrastructure development. There is a perceived increase and paucity of studies regarding young adult building artisans' involvement in illicit substances, which threatens the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 8. This study investigated the underlying causes and recommended feasible measures to prevent or mitigate the use of illicit substances among young adult artisans on construction sites in Nigeria, and, by extension, to improve the achievement of Goals 3 and 8. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This research employs a face-to-face interview to collect data in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. FINDINGS: Findings reveal that there is a prevalent issue of increasing young adult building artisans' illicit substance intake on building sites. This poses a significant threat to occupational health (SDG 3) and workplace safety (SDG 8). Findings also identified 17 underlying causes, including a lack of awareness among artisans, a low educational background and lax safety and management policies. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This research contributes to the existing literature on preventing or mitigating illicit substance use among young adult building artisans. It also recognises that preventive or mitigative measures can be useful for mental health stability and, by extension, for achieving the SDGs.