African Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (AJADA)
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Substance use among adolescents in sub-saharan Africa: A narrative review of epidemiological data
Full text linkThe adolescent population in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow significantly, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Increasing rates of substance use among youth pose a significant public health concern, potentially exacerbating morbidity, mortality, and risky behaviors. While previous studies have examined substance use in sub-Saharan Africa, they often focused on individual countries or combined data across regions, overlooking shared sociocultural contexts within subregions. This narrative review analyzed epidemiological data from 60 studies conducted between 2014 and 2024,examining substance use patterns among adolescents under 20 years across sub-Saharan Africa’s four sub-regions. The review incorporated academic literature, intergovernmental reports, and local partners’ insights covering 29 countries through 19 demographic and health surveys, 17 global youth tobacco surveys, seven global school-based student health surveys, and 16 cross-sectional studies. Findings reveal substantial sub regional variations in substance use patterns, with the highest rates documented in Southern Africa (up to 44.6% for any substance use) and Western Africa (31.2-32.9%). Eastern Africa demonstrated varied patterns, with alcohol use reaching 50.2% in some countries. Central Africa, while showing more consistent patterns, had limited data primarily focused on tobacco use (ranging from 9.2% to 14.1%). Gender disparities were evident across all sub-regions, with males consistently showing higher usage rates than females. The review identified critical gaps in comprehensive substance use data, particularly in Central Africa, and notable disparities between national and regional studies\u27 findings. This sub-regional approach, which acknowledges shared sociocultural contexts among neighboring countries, provides more nuanced insights than previous country-specific studies. These findings highlight the need for culturally grounded, evidence-based prevention programs tailored to specific contexts, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts with local partners in developing targeted prevention strategies that address the unique challenges faced by adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa
A Meta-Analysis for Understanding the Role of the COMT Val158Met Variant in the Susceptibility to Alcoholism
Full text linkThe hypothesis of association between 158Met allele of catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and poor dopamine catabolism, dopamine remains prolonged for their half-time in the prefrontal cortex and gets more reward from alcohol than COMT Val158 allele, has generated much interest, research and controversy. Hence, a meta-analysis to explore possible role of COMT Val158Met variant and alcoholism has been performed. Twenty-two case-control data sets containing 3602 alcoholism patients and 5183 healthy subjects genotyped for COMT Val158Met variant has been included and assessed for their association with alcoholism. Meta-analyses were conducted with the use of MetaGenyo web tool. The results of this study confirmed that the COMT Val158Met variant is not contributing to the risk of alcoholism (Dominant model: OR = 1.10 (95% CI = 0.92-1.30), I2 = 49%). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity also found no association of this allele with alcoholism risk in both Asian (Dominant model: OR = 1.15 (95% CI = 0.83-1.60), I2 = 43%) and Caucasian (Dominant model: OR = 1.07 (95% CI = 0.87-1.32), I2 = 54%) populations. The meta-analysis results of this study suggest no significant correlation between COMT Val158Met variant and alcoholism
Relationship Between Family Resilience And Relapse Risk Among Discharged Substance Users Attending Alcoholic Anonymous Groups In Nairobi City County; Kenya.
Full text linkFamilies encounter challenges when their loved one has a substance use disorder and has gone through a relapse. Relapse is the greatest hindrance to the fight against drug and substance abuse globally because it makes it very hard for people to stay away from substance abuse even after they have utilized resources in the rehabilitation process. Understanding all the aspects that impact relapse either positively or negatively is the foundation of understanding measures that can be established to curb this Substance use, hence the importance of this investigation. The study was designed to determine whether a relationship between family resilience and relapse risk existed among discharged individuals with SUD attending alcoholic anonymous groups in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Study objectives included: to determine the level of resilience among families of discharged substance users, to determine the status of relapse risk among discharged recovering individuals, and to establish the relationship between family resilience and relapse risk among the discharged substance users attending alcoholic anonymous groups in Nairobi city County, Kenya. The study employed a correlational research design using self-administered questionnaires to collect information on both relapse risk and family resilience. A sample of 93 respondents participated in the study. The theoretical framework used was Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response (FAAR). The SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data that showed significant correlation between family resilience and relapse risk, meaning that individuals with higher family resilience have a lower risk of relapse to substance use disorder. This finding has a major implication for relapse prevention such as suggesting that facilitators at the AA groups help recovering substance users explore their relationship with their loved ones. This would ensure that the individuals have worked on their resentments.
Prevalence of Relapse and Associated Factors in Khat Chewers and Non-Chewers among Persons with Serious Mental Illness at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Full text linkAbstract
People with serious mental illness using illicit drug like amphetamine exhibit poorer outcomes. But until now little is known about the impact of khat on relapse of disease in people with serious mental illness. This study assesses prevalence and factors associated with relapse between khat chewer and non chewer people with serious mental illness. This is cross sectional study involving 405 khat chewers and 400 non chewer people with serious mental illness. The study was undertaken at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital on May, 2021. Patients were selected using systematic random sampling. The study involves interview (patient and care giver) and chart review. The study used Oslo Social Support Scale; Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test and questionnaire which include sociodemographic characteristics, illness related factors and relapse history.The study found that prevalence of relapse was higher in khat chewers than in non chewers (22% Vs 13%, p=0.001) people with serious mental illness. Additionally, the prevalence of relapse was also increased in the chewer group as the amount of khat use increased. In the khat chewer group previous hospitalization histories and presence of stressful life situation are the factor associated with relapse. On the other hand treatment interruption, sleep disorder and previous hospitalization are the factors associated with relapse in non khat chewer people with serious mental illness. The study found that khat chewing poses increased risk of relapse for the already debilitating disease. Patient care should consider khat chewing as one of the components for intervention
Psychosocial implications of substance use disorders among patients attending a psychiatric facility in Lagos
Full text linkSubstance use disorders have become a major family and public health problem because of the associated socio-economic burden to the public in terms of rising health care costs, loss of productivity, reduced family income and other disabilities. The study aimed to assess the psychosocial implications of substance use disorder in patients attending a psychiatric facility in Lagos. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study amongst 420 participants aged 18-64 years. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and psychosocial problems in the study participants. The mean age of study participants was 27.69± 8.575. There were more participants who were within the ages of 18-25 years and there were more males. Additionally, 57.2% had secondary level of education, 60% were unemployed and 58.8% had no monthly income. Most common age at first use of substance was less than 18 years. The most common psychoactive substances used by study participants were alcohol, cannabis and tobacco. Interpersonal relationship problems were reported in 50.2% of study participants, job problems in 56.0%, and economic problems in 87.4%. Psychiatric diagnosis was reported by 33.3% of the participants and medical diagnosis in 34% of participants. Sociodemographic characteristics significantly associated with relationship problems were age (p=0.004), occupation p=0.021), tribe (0.040), religion (p=0.028), and monthly income (p=0.022). Socio-demographic characteristics significantly associated with job problems were educational level (p=0.022), occupation (p=0.037), age at f irst use (p=0.002). Socio-demographic characteristics significantly associated with economic problems were monthly income (p=0.001), age at first use (p=0.024). The study concluded that there is a high prevalence of psychosocial problems from persons with substance use disorder and curbing the menace of substance abuse requires a collaborative effort from families, religious organizations, media, secondary and tertiary institution authorities, health educators, community and the government
The Role of Family in the Initiation and Enabling of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Full text linkFamily is the basic unit of a nation, and the primary institution for knowledge and skill acquisition, and it further shapes individual attitudes, desires, and behavior, both in the right and negative manner. The family regarding the rising dependence on alcohol and drug abuse has not been a critical focus for empirical analysis, a gap that this study sought to fill. The study utilized secondary data from Kenya, sourced from the internet, particularly in journals on alcohol and drug abuse. Content analysis was adopted, and data was presented in themes. It was found that there are factors within the family that catalyze the initiation of alcohol and substance abuse and maintain its continuous use. These factors included different parenting styles; authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved styles of parenting, the circumstances and conditions within the home environment, primary caregiver role modeling and any close relatives, adverse childhood experiences and in some instances, disposition from genetic makeup, that cause inter-generational alcoholism in certain families. To resolve this problem, the family has to be made focus of interventions to curb alcohol and drug abuse
Exploring where to concentrate smoking cessation efforts in Nigeria through the mirror of self-reported smoking
Full text linkSmoking is the largest cause of preventable health problems and premature death worldwide, and about 80% of the world\u27s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries. Tobacco smoking prevalence in Nigeria was 10.4% and it is estimated that there are about 20 million active smokers in the country. This study investigate the spatial pattern of self-reported smoking in order to determine potential targets for smoking cessation campaigns in Nigeria, utilizing a nationally representative dataset. This was a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the spatial pattern of self-reported smoking as a means of determining where smoking cessation campaigns should be targeted in Nigeria, using spatial analysis and descriptive statistics to examine data from the first round of the Nigeria-National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The results indicated that over 80% of self-reported smokers were male, and young people aged 20-39 were majority (53.8%). Crop farming (24.7%) was the dominant profession. Benue (10.0%), Bauchi (6.3%), and Edo (5.5%) States had the highest number of smokers, and Ekiti (1.6%), Kano (1.3%), and Jigawa (0.7%) States had the least numbers. Self-reported smokers in the country tended towards clustering (Moran I=.126), and whereas Benue State was the hot-spot of smokers in the country, Katsina, Kano, and Kaduna States formed the cold spot. This study identified the age range, the predominant occupation, and the location of most smokers in the country, making possible focused smoking cessation interventions. However, a one-size-fits-all smoking cessation policy might not work in the country given the heterogeneous distribution of smokers
Effects of happiness and burnout on alcohol and drug abuse among officers of the police force in Ibadan, Nigeria
Full text linkDrug abuse as well as its correlates is less researched among law enforcement officers in Nigeria than the general populations. This study examines the prevalence and impact of happiness (authentic and fluctuating) and burnout as psychological predictors of alcohol and drug abuse among officers of the Nigeria Police Force. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 297 Nigerian police officers in Ibadan, Nigeria, with a structured survey tool comprising Authentic Happiness Scale, Burnout Assessment Tool, Drug Use Disorder Identification Test, and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. The results revealed burnout significantly predicted higher levels of alcohol use, β = 0.331, t = 6.350, p < 0.01. Authentic happiness predicted less of alcohol use, β = -0.103, t = 2.073, p < 0.05. Fluctuating happiness predicted higher levels of alcohol use, β = 0.329, t = 6.474, p < 0.01. Additionally, burnout significantly predicted increase in the use of psychoactive drugs, β = 0.339, t = 6.260, p < 0.01. Whereas fluctuating happiness significantly predicted higher levels of drug use, β = 0.276, t = 5.235, p < 0.01, authentic happiness did not significantly predict drug use in this study, β = -0.065, t = 1.256, p > 0.05. The study concluded that low levels of authentic happiness, high levels of fluctuating happiness, and burnout are significant risk factors of substance abuse among Nigerian police officers. The need for targeted interventions to address these psychological factors and improve the overall well-being of police officers is recommended
The relationship between Patterns of using Internet, Media Literacy, Alcohol Consumption and Drug Abuse: A Case of Malaysian Youth
Full text linkThe concerning statistics regarding alcohol consumption and substance abuse among young individuals in Malaysia necessitate endeavors to comprehend this occurrence. The aim of the current research was to ascertain the correlations between media literacy, Internet usage patterns, alcohol intake, and drug misuse among Malaysian youths. A quantitative research approach was employed to collect data from 440 students at University Putra Malaysia through a method of stratified random sampling. The findings of the investigation indicated that the association between media literacy and alcohol consumption was statistically significant (p=0.017), whereas it was deemed insignificant for drug consumption (p=0.90). Notably, no statistically significant connections were found between the two dimension of Internet usage patterns and alcohol intake (p=0.22, p=0.54) or drug use (p=0.41, p=0.48). Nevertheless, the link between Internet usage patterns and media literacy was found to be significant (p=0.00). Additionally, outcomes from the independent t-test displayed that male participants exhibited higher levels of drug and alcohol usage compared to their female counterparts (p=0.00, p=0.045). Significant mean disparities were also observed between drug consumption and gender. The outcomes of the one-way ANOVA revealed notable mean differences between ethnic groups and alcohol consumption (p=0.00), while no mean differences were identified between ethnic groups and drug usage (p=0.82). The implications of this study are also deliberated