Pattern of Psychoactive Substances Use among Long-Distance Truck Drivers in Nigeria

Aims: This study was designed to examine the pattern of psychoactive drugs use among long-distance truck drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

Study Design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study.

Place and Duration: The study was conducted at the converging motor park for truck drivers in Ado-Ekiti, south-west Nigeria between September and December 2019.

Methods: The pattern of psychoactive drugs use among 306 adult male truck drivers was determined using a semi-structured questionnaire in addition to a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data was analyzed and logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of illicit drug use.

Results: Among the 306 study participants, 43.7% consumed alcohol. The major non-prescription drugs used by the truck drivers were cough syrups (67.0%); analgesics (49.3%); cannabis (39.9%); amphetamine/methamphetamine (33.0%) and tranquilizers (32.0%). Opioid analgesics like tramadol (35.1%) and morphine (22.3%) were the commonly used analgesics. The predictor of psychoactive drugs use among the long-distance truck drivers is the co-use of alcohol and tobacco (AOR (1.71) 95% CI (1.24–2.36%).

Conclusion: There is a high rate of psychoactive drugs use among truck drivers. There is an urgent need to educate the truck drivers on the adverse implications of illicit drug use and the need to abstain for better health promotion.