A Community-Based Study of Behavioural Perception of Psychoactive Drug Abuse in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Behavioural therapy is an effective intervention for drug abuse. Assessing the behavioural perception of drug abuse may reveal practices and focus points that require interventional sensitisation programs. Objective: To ascertain the pattern of behavioural perception of psychoactive drug abuse. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out between May and August 2022, among randomly selected residents of a community in Southern Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. Results: Out of a total of 120 participants, 41.7% agreed that drugs are necessary to maintain their status in the society, 46.7% agreed that drugs could be taken to promote social gathering effectively, 46.7% agreed that there is no wrong in taking drugs while 62.5% agreed that drugs could kill. Forty per cent agreed that drugs are necessary for validation agreements, while 22.5% agreed that drugs are meant for frustrated people. Over half (58.3%) disagreed that drug addicts indulge in criminal acts, 75.0% disagreed that drugs should be avoided because it distorts their sense of judgment, and 66.6% of the respondents agreed that young individuals see drug use as a means of escapism. Conclusions: The distribution of the participants with positive or negative behavioural perceptions of drug abuse is approximately equal with a slight increase in the negative perception group. Behavioural therapy for drug abuse is required to reduce the burden in the studied environment. Furthermore, this study forms the basis for creating more health intervention schemes to reduce the drug abuse burden.