Emerging psychoactive drugs and the common life events among adolescents in a Nigerian rehabilitation centre

Abstract

Adolescence is characterised by intense experimentation. This study examined the prevalence and pattern of psychoactive substance use and common life events among adolescents abusing psychoactive substances in a Nigerian Hospital. The study employed cross-sectional descriptive method of 385 patients admitted for drug rehabilitation in the ABUAD Multisystem Hospital Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria. Smoking and eating Marijuana (47.6%), eating Datura stramonium leaf (32.2%) and drinking alcohol (11.4%) were psychoactive substances commonly used among the respondents. The predominant life events among respondents included: heavy load of study (34.3%), study pressure from family (26.5%), family member serious illness (23.5%), scolding by parents (21.1%), and tired of learning (20.8%). Datura stramonium leaf abuse is an emerging psychoactive substance among the respondents. Relevant stakeholders should be aware of the new trend in drug use among adolescents and coordinated effort should be made to stop the trend.