Patterns of Substance Use in a Sample of Commercial Motorcycle Riders in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State

Abstract

The study investigated patterns of substance use in a sample of commercial motorcycle riders in Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and April, 2023 at various designated units of the commercial motorcycle riders in Nsukka LGA. A total number of 600 commercial motorcycle riders participated. Data collection was done using self-developed Patterns of Substance Use Questionnaire (PSUQ), in which part of it was adapted from Drug Use Screening Inventory (revised DUSI-R). Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, and chi-square statistics were used for analyses. The findings revealed that commercial motorcycle riders mostly used over the counter medications (69.3%), prescription pain killers (61.5%), alcohol (45.5%), and caffeine (41.0%) in the home, followed by workplaces and public places. Commercial motorcycle riders mostly used over the counter medications (83.2%), prescription pain killers (67.4%), alcohol (48.3%), smoking tobacco (47.2%), caffeine (46.2%), cannabis (35.1%), and heroine/morphines/opiates (21.4%) daily other than weekly. Education level (p =.007<0.05) and marital status (p =.036<0.05) were significantly associated with the patterns of substance use among commercial motorcycle riders. However, Enugu State government should strengthen existing laws and policies on substance abuse by enforcing a ban on the sale of substances with psychoactive properties to any individual that convey passengers from one place to another in the course of operation, irrespective of the setting (home, workplaces, public places) or period (daily, weekly) the substances may be requested.