Mitigating Substance Abuse Mortality through Harm Reduction Interventions in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse is a major global health concern, causing about 11.8 million deaths annually. Despite efforts to reduce abuse, it remains high, particularly among young adults. Harm reduction philosophy is a promising strategy to address these issues by offering a pragmatic and flexible approach to drug abuse. The aim of this review was to highlight the burden of psychoactive substance use, available treatment methods, the concept of harm reduction strategies, its barriers and enhancers and make recommendations for its enhancement in Nigeria.

Discussion: Harm reduction is a public health strategy that attempt to lessen the harmful effects of drug abuse, including physical, social, and economic, without focusing on abstinence. It involves policies, initiatives, and methods that seek to lessen drug use's harmful consequences without emphasizing abstinence. However, in Nigeria, there is little evidence to support the acceptance, usage, and knowledge of end users and their caregivers of HRS, despite the program's many advantages and certain policy shifts toward a public health approach to drug use. Some of obstacles to causing this include inadequate information, lack of awareness, limited economic resources, stigmatization, misconception and many others.

Conclusion: In the future, it is important to achieve proper utilization of harm reduction strategies in Nigeria. Some factors that can enhance this include education on what harm reduction is and its benefits, openness to harm reduction strategies, support from community members and organizations, developing therapeutic relationship, organizational support, and specialized healthcare service providers.