Substance Abuse among Residents of Gwagwalada Abuja, Nigeria
A. M. Umarudeen *
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
O. N. Okoli
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
J. Mundi
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
E. Mitaire-Idonor
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
E. O. Moore
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
E. Adah
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To determine the variety of psychoactive substances existing in Gwagwalada and the extent to which residents indulged in them.
Study Design: A cross-sectional survey using questionnaires and audio interviews on eligible respondents.
Place and Duration of Study: Gwagwalada, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory in the month of April 2023.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out by administering pre-tested questionnaires and audio interviews on 320 respondents with substance use history from selected areas of the town using convenience sampling.
Results: 100 questionnaires were returned filled, and 91 valid responses consisting of 52 (57.1%) users and 39 (42.9%) non-users were obtained. 27 (29.7%) and 25 (27.4%) of valid responses indicated active and inactive substance users, respectively. 17 (18.7%) active users frequently, and 35 (38.5%) infrequently indulged in substance abuse.Twenty (22.0%) substance users concurrently used multiple substances while 32 (35.2%) indulged in only one item per time.Most listed substances by responders and their routes of administration were alcohol (51.6%) oral, marijuana (24.2%) oral/inhalation, Crystal Methamphetamine (4.4%) inhalation/injection, Tranq (4.4%) injection, MDMA (4.4%) oral/injection, Panadol (3.3%) oral, Caffeine (3.3%) oral, Tramadol 2.2%) oral, and Datura spp. seed/leaf (2.2%) oral/smoking.Most used routes were oral (79.1%), inhalation/smoking (35.2%), and injection (28.2%). Alcohol was the substance most concurrently used with other listed substances, but mostly with marijuana and tramadol.Reasons given by respondents for their indulgence are peer pressure (42%), recreational use (30%), as a therapy (22%), to feel good (4%), and nonsensical reasons (2%). Responders listed availability/ accessibility, affordability, peer pressure, need to belong, as coping mechanism with the harsh economic realities as factors promoting substance abuse.
Conclusion: Our findings of Crystal Methamphetamine, Tranq, MDMA and Datura species among the variety of psychoactive substances and the fact that 29.7% of the sampled population actively indulged in them indicates a high prevalence of substance abuse Gwagwalada. This calls for urgent substance abuse mitigation strategies.
Keywords: Gwagwalada, substance abuse, psychoactive, datura species, Zakami