The Epidemiology of Addiction in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Synthesis of Reports, Reviews, and Original Articles

Abstract

Use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances is associated with serious social and public health problems, but the extent of the problem in Sub-Saharan Africa is not well known. We set out to review epidemiological publications on alcohol and other psychoactive substances in Sub-Saharan Africa by performing a systematic search of electronic databases and paper records. Ten Sub-Saharan African countries are among the 22 in the world with the highest increase in per capita alcohol consumption. Cannabis, tobacco, and khat are widely used, and use of cocaine, stimulants, and heroin is increasing. More epidemiological research and implementation and evaluation of interventions is needed. Collaboration between African researchers and those in developed countries could help.

Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol Dependence Disorder among TB and HIV Infected Patients in Zambia

“…In assessing evidence for the relationship between alcohol, HIV and TB, comparison between studies is complicated by heterogeneity of measures of alcohol use [6,9,47]. Further, alcohol use can be culturally and context specific, relating to local and particular consumption patterns, complicating further comparative analysis [54] [55].…”

Generating trust: Programmatic strategies to reach women who inject drugs with harm reduction services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…However, a recent surge in the availability of strong, cheap heroin to urban populations has contributed to growth in injecting drug use in Dar es Salaam (McCurdy, Williams, Kilonzo, Ross, & Leshabari, 2005; McCurdy, Ross, Kilonzo, Leshabari, & Williams, 2006; UNODC, 2013). Easy access to heroin combined with myriad social and economic forces, such as rapid urban migration, lack of employment for youth, and limited mental health care, have further contributed to a rise in injecting drug use (Acuda, Othieno, Obondo, & Crome, 2011; McCurdy et al, 2005). The Tanzania Drug Control Commission estimates that 50,000 people inject drugs nationally (TDCC, 2010).…”

Khat (Catha edulis) and ethanol co-dependence modulate seizure expression in a pentylenetetrazol seizure model

“…Given the current trends in the rise in consumption of individual drugs especially khat and alcohol in Africa (Claasen, 1999;Othieno et al, 2000;Acuda et al, 2011), it can be expected that coabuse of these drugs will also increase because of easy access to them. It is important then to understand and predict the physical effects in the brain, especially epileptogenic effects, of long-term coabuse of khat and ethanol, these drugs being among the most commonly abused substances in Africa (Nkowane and Jansen, 1999).…”

“…Khat is one of the most commonly abused drugs and its use rates vary considerably, from approximately 25% in Ethiopian youth aged 16-25 years (Ayana and Mekonen, 2004; also see Belew et al, 2000), to approximately 32% in one Ugandan survey of a similar age group (Ihunwo et al, 2004). Recent epidemiological data suggests that, in general, the use of psychoactive substances including khat is increasing in Africa and that, of the 22 countries with the highest increase in per capita alcohol consumption, 10 are in sub-Saharan Africa (Acuda et al, 2011).…”