Substance use among secondary students is an important public health concern, yet evidence from South Sudan remains limited. This study examined secondary school students’ knowledge and attitudes toward substance abuse, and perceived factors influencing substance use in Juba, South Sudan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2025 among 430 students enrolled in Senior Two to Senior Four classes in eight public secondary schools. Schools and students were selected through random-sampling procedures. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire that assessed socio-demographic characteristics, perceived knowledge, attitudes, and perceived contributing factors. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and presented in tables, figures, and pie charts. The mean age of participants was 19 years, with most respondents aged 17 - 25 years. Of the 430 respondents, 301 (70.0%) reported having limited knowledge of substance abuse. The majority agreed or strongly agreed that peer pressure may contribute to substance use (277, 64.4%), that substance abuse constitutes a criminal offense (273, 63.5%), that inadequate family support may contribute to substance use (328, 76.3%), and that mental health challenges may also be contributing factors (318, 74.0%). The analysis was descriptive and therefore reflects the perceptions and self-reported responses of students from the eight participating schools.
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