Trends in sociodemographic and drug abuse variables in patients with alcohol and drug use disorders in a Nigerian treatment facility.
BACKGROUND
Globally, patterns of the use of psychoactive substances have been changing.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the trend in two five year periods, 1992 to 1997 versus 2002 to 2007, of alcohol and substance use disorders and associated variables in patients admitted to a drug abuse treatment facility.


METHODS
This was a comparative cross-sectional study involving all patients admitted into Drug Abuse Treatment, Education, and Research (DATER), Unit of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Nigeria within the study period. All subjects had a structured psychiatric interview, a physical examination, laboratory investigations and DATER Questionnaire protocols that elicited socio-demographic, drug and family variables.


RESULTS
The patients in 2002 to 2007 versus those of 1992 to 1997 were younger (chi squared 13.29; p,0.01). More last borns were using drugs by 2002 to 2007 (chi squared, 11.37; p,0.01). Cannabis was the most abused drug in 2002 to 2007 (53.5%) as compared to cocaine (44%) in 1992 to 1997 (chi squared 35.5; p,0.001). Polydrug abuse was high in the two periods but significantly the drug combination changed to cannabis in combination with alcohol in 2002 to 2007 as against cocaine in combination with opiates in 1992 to 1997 chi squared 45.3, p 0.001). More patients had co-morbid psychiatric disorders in 2000 to 2007 (67.6% as against 38.5% in 1992 to 1999 chi squared 28.32, p,0.001). In both periods, co-morbidity associated with cannabis use rather than any other drug of abuse as the odds ratio was greater than one.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in the trend in the two five year periods underscore the imperatives of continuous evaluation of the drug abuse patient population in treatment which may help drive changes in treatment inputs.
Adamson
T A
TA
Drug Addiction Treatment Research and Education Unit, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Nigeria. adamson@hyperia.com
Onifade
P O
PO
Ogunwale
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs