PREVALENCE OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS

ABSTRACT

Psychoactive substance abuse is a proliferating public health and social problem that leads to negative multidimensional impact especially among the youths. This study was done to determine the prevalence, pattern of substance use and its associated factors affecting the use of these substances among patients between the ages of 15-45 years in the federal neuropsychiatric hospital, Uselu, Nigeria. This was a non-experimental, retrospective, descriptive survey carried out among 1905 in-patients between January 2015 and January 2020. Data collection was done using a proforma and was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The overall prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse was 62.2% and was more in males (59.9%) than in females (3.2%). Among the 11 substances, Cannabis (73.2%), Alcohol (9.9%), Opioid (5.4%) were the most commonly used. The most common factors affecting substance abuse were friends/peer group (56.3%), Fun/party (26.2%) and inherent family use (5.5%). A statistically significant difference existed between substance abuse and gender (p<0.05). This study employs that a multidimensional approach is needed in curbing substance abuse among youths both at family and societal levels.