Descriptive Analysis of Factors Associated with Substance Use among Commercial Motorcyclists in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Psychoactive substance abuse is a global health concern causing both social and public health problems. Man has used various substances to achieve relaxation, pleasurable state of mind as well as to alter both the physiological and psychological functioning of the body system. Like in other urban areas in Nigeria, motorcycles in Ekiti State are operated by mostly youths. Majority of Nigerian commercial motorcyclists ignorantly depend on drugs such as Tobacco, Indian hemp, cocaine, morphine, heroin, alcohol, ephedrine, caffeine, barbiturates and amphetamines) for their various daily activities. Therefore, the study examined the determinants of psychoactive substance consumption among commercial motorcyclists in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study was all registered commercial motorcyclists operating in Ado Local Government Areas of Ekiti State. The sample for the study consisted of 200 registered motorcyclists in Ado- Ekiti. The sample was selected using multistage sampling procedure involving simple random sampling technique. A self-developed research instrument tagged “Psychoactive Substances Consumption Questionnaire” (PSCQ)” was used to collect relevant data for the study. The instrument is of two sections. The face and content validity of the instrument were ensured and the reliability was determined using Cronbach Alpha yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.75. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving frequency counts, percentages and mean. Factors influencing consumption of psychoactive substances use include: to boost energy, peer group/friends influence, for relaxation, to forget about problems, to increase masculinity, to improve cycling performance, for social interaction, to increase mental alertness, to increase appetite and to reduce stress. In the light of the findings, it was recommended that, there is need for increased awareness campaign by health educators to enlighten the commercial motorcyclists on the debilitating consequences of psychoactive substance consumption. Also, government through its regulatory agency should enforce strict compliance to Drug Use Act by imposing appropriate sanctions on herring commercial motorcyclists.