Prevalence of Substance Abuse, Assessment of Socio-economic and Demo-graphic Determinants of Commercial Motorcyclists in Katsina State Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse has been reported to have adversely affected socio-economic determinants of states and nations. Substance abuse is the use of tobacco, alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs and other substances in ways contrary to the overall health of the individual. It has been grossly under-reported and undermined in Katsina State, Nigeria. Identification and early intervention of associated risk factors had greater impact than later intervention by changing individual’s life pathway from problems and towards positive behaviors.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of substance abuse amongst motorcyclists and associated socio-economic characteristics in Katsina State, Nigeria, a cross sectional study approach was commissioned.

Methodology:  Convenient sampling using a mobile Open Data collection tool (ODK) application was used to collect and collate field data. Data was analyzed using SPSS®. Strength of significance within categorical variables were reported and accepted at P≤0.05.

Results:Kola nut (53%) and Marijuana (1%) were identified to have the highest and lowest prevalence respectively (P>0.05) across Jibia and Katsina Local Government Areas the (2 LGAs) in Nigeria where the study was carried out. Almost all types of psychoactive substances were available in Nigeria due to their spill over into the streets from drug traffickers who use Nigeria as a conduit to transport drugs from South East-Asia (the  Golden,South America to Europe and North America [12].

Conclusion: With an overall substance abuse prevalence of 19%, it was concluded that substance abuse was endemic in the state and hence public health education must be used to check this societal ill

Keywords: Abuse, Katsina, Prevalence, Socio-economic, Substance