The Growing Crisis of Drug-Related Problems in Mental Health
Over 75% of patients attending psychiatric clinics present with drug-related problems, according to seasoned mental health experts. These specialists highlighted that many individuals seeking psychiatric care struggle with complications linked to the abuse of prescription medications and illicit substances. They explained that these issues often worsen underlying mental health conditions, delay recovery, and increase the risk of relapse.
A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria revealed alarming statistics. It indicated that 14.4% (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs. In Nigeria, one in seven persons within this age range had used a drug (other than tobacco and alcohol) in the past year. The report stated that the past year’s prevalence of any drug use is estimated at 14.4% (range: 14.0 – 14.8%), corresponding to 14.3 million people aged 15–64 years who had used a psychoactive substance for non-medical purposes.
The UNODC report also revealed that one in five high-risk drug users injects drugs. It added that the most commonly injected drugs in the past year were pharmaceutical opioids, followed by cocaine and heroin. While more men were found to inject drugs overall, women were more likely than men to report injecting heroin.
Annual statistics released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency showed that over 14 million people, including children and teenagers, in Nigeria misuse drugs. Experts have raised concerns over the growing impact of substance use on mental health outcomes in Nigeria.
Psychiatric Disorders and Drug-Related Complications
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the experts highlighted trends in patients’ presentation and diagnosis. Dr. Sunday Amosu, Director of Research, Training, and Head of the Drug Abuse Unit at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, noted that several psychiatric disorders are being presented at the clinic. He listed psychiatric disorders being seen from clinic to clinic include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and drug abuse.
However, Amosu explained that over 75% of patients seen in psychiatric hospitals are battling drug-related complications. “I would say for now, more than 75% of patients seen in the hospital have a drug-related problem. They may have psychosis, and psychosis is a major mental illness in which patients have lost all touch with reality,” he said.
Amosu, a consultant psychiatrist, emphasized that the combination of several drugs and substances was worsening the drug-related conditions being presented in clinics. “Most of them will take it and ultimately develop psychosis. So, when you see people with mental illness today, if you check them, more than 75 to 80% of them, you will see that in the background is a drug problem.”
He also revealed that the move from authentic to synthetic drugs among Nigerians was deepening the drug abuse conundrum. “Today, we have the generation of synthetic cannabis, rather than the cannabis that is planted. Now, there is synthetic cannabis that is synthesised in the laboratory. They have entered the synthetic era, which involves drugs formulated and produced in labs. And most of the time, they’ve had other drugs added to it. And with the intake of all these, there’s a risk of mental breakdown,” he said.
Complications and Symptoms
The complications in patients include hallucinatory experiences, delusions, and thought insertion, among others. Amosu described how many people are developing schizophrenia, a major psychiatric disorder where they lose touch with reality. “They can see what others are not seeing. The commonest is that when a person is schizophrenic, they say everybody is against them. They can have hallucinatory experiences, hear voices, and see what other people cannot see. Hear voices that other people cannot hear—that’s what is called auditory hallucination. So, they can have auditory or visual hallucinations. In addition to what is called delusion, like false, unshakeable beliefs. They can say they are doctors, even when they have not gone to medical school; they have called themselves lawyers or prophets. They can claim to have some undue power, and none of these claims is founded. So, those are delusions,” he said.
Demographics and Trends
On the demography of the patients, the psychiatrist said that while drug abuse is common in males, females also engage in the practice. “If we look at drug abuse generally, what you see, including with the national drug use survey of 2018 that we are still quoting, shows that about 14.3 million Nigerians use drugs, and that’s about 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15 to 64. So drug abuse is still more common in males. But quite a number of females also have the same problem that is not reported. It’s also common in the younger age group, as expected. But don’t be surprised that some of these teens also grow up continuing to use drugs.”
Dr. Kehinde Oderinde, a Consultant Drug Addiction Psychiatrist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, urged parents and guardians to understand and recognize the signs of drug abuse among children and wards. He listed changes in behavior, physical appearance, weight loss, and withdrawal symptoms, among others, as indicators of drug abuse.
According to him, recognizing these signs can be a crucial step in helping an individual overcome their struggles. “One of the most obvious signs is a change in behaviour, which can manifest in various ways. The individual may become increasingly secretive and isolated, withdrawing from social interactions and relationships. They may also exhibit mood swings, becoming irritable, anxious, or depressed without any apparent reason. Physical changes can also be indicative of substance abuse. Bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, and changes in sleep patterns are common signs. The individual may also experience weight loss or gain, and their personal hygiene may deteriorate. Slurred speech, coordination problems, and tremors can also be signs of substance abuse.”
