Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Reports have been presented from different states in Nigeria to determine the prevalence of drugs or substance abuse in specific regions in the country but only a few have been reported from Niger State. Drugs of abuse can be classified as traditional drugs (cannabis, cocaine), prescription drugs (tramadol, benylin), and new psychoactive substances (madarasukudaye, solution). This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of substance abuse in Niger state by gathering relevant drug related data from a major street in Bosso Local Government and two rehabilitation centres in Minna. Sixty questionnaires were administered to respondents using a simple random sampling method. The questionnaires targeted the types of drugs abused in the region, drugs consumed by participants, frequency of intake. The following drugs are abused in the study area- cannabis, benylin, tramadol, madarasukudaye, solution, heroin, zakami (Datura metel), petrol, magadon M5, silver D5, exzol 5, bozol 5, diazepam, rohyphnol, sephanol, nitrazapam, katamine, gwana, gutter, bla, shakare, taba, dried pawpaw leaf. The frequently abused drugs/substances based on their classification, were cannabis (71.4%), benylin (53.52%) and madarasukudaye (38%), which reflects the highest intake in the study area. The following drugs also recorded high intake- tramadol (36.62%) and solution (23%). Traditional drugs, prescription drugs and new psychoactive substances, had a daily frequency intake of 83.64%, 88.46% and 77.08% respectively. Cannabis, and a good number of prescription drugs and NPS are well abused in Niger state because they are affordable and readily available. There is need for further identification of the chemical composition of these NPS.