An estimated 14.4 per cent (range 14 percent – 14.8 percent) of the population in Nigeria, or 14.3 million people between ages 15 and 64 years had used drugs, excluding alcohol and tobacco, in 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2018 drug use report released on Tuesday, January, 29.
From the NBS report, the extent of drug use in Nigeria is comparatively high when compared with the 2016 global annual prevalence of any drug use of 5.6 per cent among the adult population
“The prevalence of psychoactive substances excluding alcohol, overall was higher among men in Nigeria, however the gender difference in the non-medical use of prescription opioids, tranquilizers and cough syrups was less marked,” the report stated
“Drug use was most common among those who were between the ages of 25 and 39 years, while the rates of past year use were lowest among those who were below 24 years of age. Cannabis was the most commonly used drug followed by opioids, mainly the non-medical use of prescription opioids and cough syrup,” it further stated.
The drug use report presents the results of the first large-scale, nation-wide survey to examine the extent and patterns of drug use in Nigeria.
The purpose of the findings is to provide the baseline information needed for the design and implementation of effective prevention, treatment and care services that are evidence based and targeted to reduce the demand for drugs and prevent the morbidity and mortality attributable to drug use in Nigeria.
BUNMI BAILEY
