Admissions for drug and alcohol-related problems in Nigerian psychiatric care facilities in one year

doi:10.1016/0376-8716(93)90062-U

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Volume 31, Issue 2, January 1993, Pages 101-109

https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(93)90062-U Get rights and content

Abstract

In an attempt to highlight the characteristics of patients admitted for drug-related problems in Nigerian psychiatric care facilities in 1 year a detailed retrospective analysis of the case records of all patients admitted to the 13 centres in northern Nigeria and 15 in the South in 1989 was carried out. In 1989, 10 396 admissions were made in these centres (4436 in the North and 5960 in the South). Drug-related admissions accounted for 8.3%, consisting of 10.3% (of 4436) in the North and 6.8% (5960) in the South. Commonly, the patients were multiple drug abusers (especially cannabis/alcohol or heroin/cocaine). In the North the relative frequency at which abuse of drugs was recorded was 77% for cannabis; 19.9% for alcohol; 2.4% for heroin; 1.1% for cocaine; 0.26% for pethidine; 3.5% for amphetamine; and 8.7% for a motley of ill-defined psychostimulants. In the southern centres, the figures were 60.6% for cannabis; 15.6% for alcohol; 40.3% for heroin; and 23.7% for cocaine. Most patients were young males from a low socio-economic background. Whereas patients using cannabis/alcohol were likely to exhibit schizophreniform symptoms, those with heroin/cocaine were most likely brought to hospital by relations because of the social effects of their maladjusted behaviour.

References (19)

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
Supplement to Official Gazette Extraordinary
(1989)
A.O. Odejide
University of Ibadan Inauguaural Lecture Series
(1989)
J.C. Ebie
A. Anumonye
Psychiatric in-patients in a Nigerian University General Hospital
Afr. J. Psychiatr.
(1975)
R.O. Jegede et al.
In-patient psychiatry in a Nigerian teaching hospital
Afr. J. Psychiatr.
(1976)
A. Boroffka
Mental illness and Indian Hemp in Lagos, Nigeria
East Afr. Med. J.
(1986)
A.O. Odejide et al.
Observations on drug abuse in Western Nigeria
Afr. J. Psychiatr.
(1976)
J.C. Ebie et al.
Use and abuse of psychoactive pharmaceuticals in Nigeria
Niger. J. Psychiatr.
(1988)
A.O. Odejide
Problems of drug abuse in Nigeria: a review of the existing literature
Niger. Med. J.
(1980)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (30)

The measurement of drinking patterns and alcohol problems in Nigeria
2000, Journal of Substance Abuse
As in most other societies, alcoholic beverages have been consumed in what is present-day Nigeria for a long time. Before the arrival of western factory-made drinks, alcohol consumption was limited to a variety of beverages produced from palm trees and food grains. Today, beer has become the most popular drink in the country but traditional beverages (palm wine, burukutu, ogogoro, pito) are still widely consumed in both rural and urban areas. Though research has shown that heavy drinking seems to be the norm among those who drink any type of alcohol, there is no clear association between drinking and social or health problems. On the other hand, certain types of beverages are linked with positive attributes. Despite their potential significance, these and other issues have not received the attention they deserve in the alcohol research literature on Nigeria and other African countries. The focus of this paper is on the need to take into consideration relevant measurement issues (e.g., container and serving size, alcohol contents, drinking expectancies, perceived risks associated with the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages, as well as reasons for drinking) in alcohol research. It is suggested that a better understanding of these and related factors is necessary for the advancement of alcohol epidemiology in the country.
Substance use, HIV infection and the harm reduction approach in sub-Saharan Africa
1998, International Journal of Drug Policy
Available data from the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region indicates the use of alcohol, cannabis, psychotropic substances, khat, organic solvents, heroin and cocaine. Alcohol and cannabis use is reported in almost all countries, khat is used mainly in the East African sub-region, while the abuse of methaqualone is a major concern in South and East African sub-regions. An increase in the use of heroin and cocaine is reported in many countries such as Nigeria, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Mauritius. Injecting of heroin and cocaine is a growing problem in a few countries, although no causal link has been established between this practice and the AIDS epidemic in the continent. Educational and public awareness campaigns form the bedrock of preventative programs. Treatment of addicts takes place mainly in psychiatric and general hospitals but non-governmental organizations, and alternative care givers now play an increasing role. Factors that may militate against the adoption of the harm reduction (HR) approach include lack of scientific evidence linking HIV to injecting drug use, costs, inadequate social welfare and health care systems, unfavorable legal systems, low prioritization and the current moralistic views on substance use. Nonetheless, there exists a unique opportunity in SSA countries to complement and strengthen the currently practised demand reduction (DR) approach with the pragmatic principles of the HR approach, with the key aim of discouraging transition from non-injecting to injecting pattern of substance use.
Psychoactive substance abuse among inmates of a Nigerian prison population
1997, Drug and Alcohol Dependence
The objectives of the study were: (1) to assess the prevalence rate of psychoactive substance use and dependence among inmates of a Nigerian prison population within the past month; (2) to highlight how aware these prisoners were, of the various drugs of abuse; (3) to compare the findings with those of reports from abroad, and general Nigerian population samples. In mid-1995, 395 subjects (97.5% males, mean age 30.5 years) were interviewed, with a questionnaire that contained DSM-III-R criteria for dependence. About two-thirds were those on remand or awaiting trial, and the majority (70%) were accused of theft and armed robbery. Compared with Nigerian general population samples, the cohort had much higher prevalence rates of awareness and life-time use of psychoactive substances. Cannabis was the only drug regularly abused in the past month, by 26 (6.6%) subjects (all males); out of whom 11 (42.3%) satisfied DSM-III-R criteria for dependence. Use of intravenous drugs was not evident. This pattern differed markedly from the situation in industrialised countries. Cannabis abuse was significantly associated with those in prison for less than six months and on a charge of theft/armed robbery.
The Cannabis/Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) Landscape in Africa: An Overview of its Cultivation and Legal Aspects
2022, Cannabis/Hemp for Sustainable Agriculture and Materials
The Burden of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Epidemiological Studies and Drug Laws
2021, Public Health Reviews
Africa’s Emerging Giants and the Drug Scourge: Exploring a Nigeria-South African Bilateral Partnership
2019, Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Admissions for drug and alcohol-related problems in Nigerian psychiatric care facilities in one year

Abstract

Supplement to Official Gazette Extraordinary

University of Ibadan Inauguaural Lecture Series

Psychiatric in-patients in a Nigerian University General Hospital

Afr. J. Psychiatr.

In-patient psychiatry in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Afr. J. Psychiatr.

Mental illness and Indian Hemp in Lagos, Nigeria

East Afr. Med. J.

Observations on drug abuse in Western Nigeria

Afr. J. Psychiatr.

Use and abuse of psychoactive pharmaceuticals in Nigeria

Niger. J. Psychiatr.

Problems of drug abuse in Nigeria: a review of the existing literature

Niger. Med. J.