Spectrum of substance use precipitating rehabilitative services among adult patients in the university of Port Harcourt teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND

World Health Organization ranks substance abuse as one of the top twenty health risk factors. It poses a serious public health crisis with a significant burden for affected individuals, families and health systems. This study aimed to identify the spectrum and pattern of substance use among patients receiving rehabilitative services.

METHODS

The study was a cross-sectional design involving 190 patients receiving rehabilitative care for substance use in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), a validated and reliable tool was employed to obtain data on substance use. Statistical analyses were performed at P<0.05.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio was 4:1. A higher proportion of the patients were within 18-35years category (81.6%; n=155). The commonly used substances were alcohol (90.5%; n=172), cannabis/marijuana (43.7%; n=83), prescription opioids (28.9%; n=55). cigarette (25.8%; n=49), and street opioids (15.8%; n=30). The prevalence of poly substance use was 68.4%(n=130). Age(p=0.033) and sex (being male) (p=0.002) were predictors for number of substances used.

CONCLUSION

Almost all the patients receiving drug rehabilitative service used alcohol, and approximately 7 in 10 used more than one substance. The need to inculcate harm reduction in the management protocol is therefore paramount.