Epidemiology of psychoactive drug use amongst adolescents in metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted in response to the lack of epidemiological data in recent time on the use of psychoactive substances by adolescents in metropolitan Lagos-a city unique for its socio-economic profile. We considered some methodological issues omitted in several previous studies. A total of 4,286 school pupils (mean age 15.2) were anonymously administered a Self-Report Questionnaire to ascertain a range of key drug use factors in lifetime and 1-year periods. The rate of use of most of the 14 substances investigated was much higher than reported in any other study on comparable population sample. We found that 61.8 and 32.1% of respondents have used one or more substances in their lifetime and in the past 1 year, respectively. High lifetime rates of use were found for common stimulants: coffee, kolanut, and prescription drugs (barbiturates and minor tranquilisers). The rate of use of proscribed addictive substances, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine, ranged between 4.0 and 4.8%. Missing data and non-response rates were few; however, social acquiescence, under and over reporting, could be mitigant to estimation of rates and patterns of use. We advocate properly articulated school-based educative programmes that can facilitate drug demand reduction.

Psychoactive Substance Use Among Young Offenders in a Nigerian Correctional Facility: A Comparative Analysis

“…For instance, they noted while 1.0% of 11 year olds had used cannabis in the last year, about 31.0% of 15 year olds had done so. Local studies have also shown similar trends in cannabis use among adolescent students (Shehu & Idris, 2008;Igwe et al, 2009). This trend has also been observed with alcohol use (Makanjuola et al, 2007;Gureje et al, Downloaded by [New York University] at 15:25 02 July 2015 2007).…”

“…These slight differences in pattern, both within Nigeria and compared with studies overseas, perhaps reflect regional differences while the generally higher figures reported from the developed economies could point to the more liberal attitude of these countries to cannabis use ("Legalizing Marijuana," 2010). In spite of the foregoing, the lifetime prevalence rate of cannabis use among the study population was about 18 times the national estimate (Gureje et al, 2007), and remarkably exceeded the figures obtained among comparable student populations (Fatoye & Morakinyo, 2002;Igwe, Ojinnaka, Ejiofor, Emechebe, & Ibe, 2009;Onofa, 2006) that are typically low. One of the very few studies in Nigeria conducted on a non-student youth sample-"street children"-also reported a lifetime prevalence rate of 10% (Morakinyo & Odejide, 2003).…”

Education, substance use, and HIV risk among orphaned adolescents in Eastern Zimbabwe

“…Despite the link between substance use and HIV risk behaviours, only a small number of epidemiological studies have looked at alcohol and drug use among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (Doku, Koivusilta, & Rimpelä, 2012; Famuyiwa, Aina, & Bankole-Oki, 2011; Mashita, Themane, Monyeki, & Kemper, 2011). Moreover, there are no published findings from Zimbabwe on this topic and further work to investigate linkages between education, substance use, and sexual risk behaviours is required.…”

Beyond prevalence and pattern: problematic extent of alcohol and substance use among adolescents in Ibadan South-west Nigeria

“…4,5 A modest number of studies have examined the epidemiology of alcohol/substance use among adolescents in Nigeria with useful policy recommendations. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, most of these studies had focussed only on the prevalence and pattern of use without addressing the social correlates. The few that examined social correlates had focussed mainly on family-related factors while assessing the risks for adolescent alcohol/substance use.…”