article · Journal of Hematology and Allied Sciences
Substance abuse in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, was evaluated to determine how it relates to inflammatory markers and blood profiles. Participants underwent urine screening for psychoactive substances, alongside testing for nuclear factor kappa B levels and key haematological indices. Confirmed drug abusers showed significantly elevated levels of nuclear factor kappa B, packed cell volume, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils, alongside reduced neutrophil counts, when compared to control subjects. In contrast, total white blood cell counts, platelets, and basophils showed no significant variation. Suspected abusers also displayed higher lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils, with lower neutrophils, but no difference in nuclear factor kappa B or packed cell volume relative to controls. Across all subjects, males had higher packed cell volume and monocyte counts than females, while age had no notable effect. The findings confirm that substance abuse alters haematological parameters and promotes systemic inflammation.
Understanding the physiological consequences of substance abuse is essential for addressing public health issues. This research reveals that illicit drug use stimulates inflammatory pathways and changes white blood cell compositions. Recognising these specific biological markers helps healthcare providers identify physiological stress and immune dysfunction in individuals who consume psychoactive substances.
This early-stage observational research identifies specific haematological and inflammatory markers associated with substance abuse. Diagnostic laboratories or clinical researchers could potentially use these parameter changes alongside standard toxicology screenings to assess physiological impact or monitor patient recovery. However, the abstract does not indicate a defined commercial product or direct clinical application pathway, leaving the findings at a basic investigative stage.
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Objectives: Drug or substance abuse, the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, has remained a growing concern in Nigeria, causing several health challenges to the abusers. Material and Methods: This study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and hematological parameters among drug abusers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Urine drug screening (tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine, amphetamine, opioid, and benzodiazepine) was determined using an immunochemical chromatography test kit. NF-κB levels were estimated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while hematological parameters were determined using a hematology autoanalyzer. Results: The results obtained showed that NF-κB, packed cell volume (PCV), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MON), and eosinophils (EOS) were significantly higher, while neutrophils (NEU) were significantly lower in confirmed drug abusers compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in total white blood cell (TWBC) count, platelets (PLT), and basophils (BASO) of confirmed drug abusers compared with controls. Furthermore, LYM, MON, and EOS were significantly higher, while NEU was significantly lower in suspected drug abusers compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). There was no significant ( p > 0.05) difference in PCV, TWBC, PLT, BASO, and NF-κB in suspected subjects compared to the control. PCV and MON were significantly higher in males compared to females in hematological parameters according to gender, while there was no significant difference concerning age among the subjects. Conclusion: The study concluded that drug abuse influences inflammation and alters changes in hematological parameters of drug-abusing individuals.
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DOI: 10.25259/jhas_63_2025
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