A Comparative Study of Pattern of Substance Use in Two Nigerian Cities Located in the Southern and Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The study compared the pattern of substance use in two cities, Uyo and Kiru in the Southern and Northern Nigeria respectively, to determine the level of involvement among youths. A total of 338 male inmates, 190 from Uyo and 148 from Kano completed a modified form of 117-item self-report instrument based on the World Health Organization guidelines for students’ substance-use surveys. Data from 320 (94.7%), comprising 179 (94.2%) from Uyo and 141 (95.23%) from Kiru were analyzed; 18 ((5.3%) were discarded due to incomplete information. The mean age of inmates from Uyo was 26.3±2.7 years and Kiru 23.7±3.9 years. The lifetime  prevalence of alcohol/substance use was more in Uyo than Kiru (47.4% vs. 33.7%; p=0.002); but current use prevalence of more than one substance was (48.3% vs. 54.6%; p=0.340). The use of alcohol in various forms was
high in Uyo, compared to inhalants, sleeping drugs, cough syrup in Kiru. Cigarettes and Indian hemp were high in both cities. Reasons for use were similar. This study has shown that substance use cuts across all boundaries in Nigeria. Therefore, efforts must be made to strengthen measures aimed at controlling the use, in order to prevent amplifications of social and  health hazards.

Key words: Alcohol; Psycoactive substances; Use; Inmates; Locality