Substance use disorders among young adults in North-Western Nigeria: descriptive survey of patterns of use

Background Substance use disorder (SUD) is a rapidly growing public health challenge in developing countries across socioeconomic divides. In sub-Saharan Africa, the situation of SUD is particularly concerning and largely unexplored, with projections indicating a worsening trend. Aims This study seeks to fill the gap by generating insights into the multifaceted nature of alcohol and drug use disorders among a young adult population in Nigeria. Method This is a cross-sectional survey of 192 current students at a university of a metropolitan city in North-Western Nigeria, using the NIDA-Modified ASSIST version 2.0, adapted from the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Results About half of the participants (49.7%) were heavy drinkers, 36.5% and 56.8% reported past year tobacco smoking and use of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, but only 7.4% had used illegal drugs daily in the past year. Cannabis and sedatives were the most used substances in the lifetime (56.2% and 47.9%, respectively) and past 3 months (52.4% and 51.1%, respectively). Men had greater odds of substance use in their lifetime (odds ratio 4.167, 95% CI 1.61–10.77; d.f. = 1, P = 0.003) and past three months (odds ratio 6.059, 95% CI 2.20–16.69; d.f. = 1, P ≤ 0.001), compared with women. Conclusions The burden of SUD remains a major public health concern in Nigeria despite existing legislation, regulations and policies in the country. There is an urgent need improve diagnostic, treatment and preventative resources by engaging a massive public health campaign to alert the public of the dangers of SUD.