Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

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

Mobolaji Usman Dada, Adekunle Olatayo Adeoti, Tobiloba Elebiyo, Banji Ferdinand ` Kumolalo, Adedotun Samuel Ajiboye

Asian Journal of Medicine and Health · pp. 18–25 · Published 8 Mar 2021

10.9734/ajmah/2021/v19i130293

Abstract

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.

Psychoactive substances drug misuse drug abuse illicit drugs opiod analgesics

References (37)

  1. 1 Childhood externalizing and internalizing psychopathology in the prediction of early substance use [DOI]
  2. 2 Why young people's substance use matters for global health [DOI]
  3. 3 Monoamine transporters and psychostimulant addiction [DOI]
  4. 4 Effects of Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants and Opioids on Driving [DOI]
  5. 5 Obesity and other risk factors: The National Survey of U.S. Long‐Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury [DOI]
  6. 6 Stimulant Abuse: Pharmacology, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Treatment, Attempts at Pharmacotherapy [DOI]
  7. 7 Prescription of Controlled Substances: Benefits and Risks
  8. 8 Smoking Rate Trends in U.S. Occupational Groups: The 1987 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey [DOI]
  9. 9 Cross‐Border Truck Drivers in Hong Kong: Their Psychological Health, Sexual Dysfunctions and Sexual Risk Behaviors [DOI]
  10. 10 Abuse and Misuse of Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs Sold in Community Pharmacies in Jordan [DOI]
  11. 11 Prevalence and Correlates of Poor Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness in Belgian Truck Drivers [DOI]
  12. 12 The impact of methamphetamine (“tik”) on a peri-urban community in Cape Town, South Africa [DOI]
  13. 13 Fatigue and Beyond: Patterns of and Motivations for Illicit Drug Use Among Long-Haul Truck Drivers [DOI]
  14. 14 Psychosocial correlates of hazardous alcohol use among undergraduates in southwestern Nigeria [DOI]
  15. 15 Recreational drug use among Nigerian university students: Prevalence, correlates and frequency of use [DOI]
  16. 16 Factors Associated With Truck Crashes in a Large Cross Section of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers [DOI]
  17. 17 Extent of misuse and dependence of codeine-containing products among medical and pharmacy students in a Nigerian University [DOI]
  18. 18 Working conditions and illicit psychoactive substance use among truck drivers in Brazil [DOI]
  19. 19 Patterns of adolescent tobacco and alcohol use as predictors of illicit and prescription drug abuse in minority young adults [DOI]
  20. 20 Health Habits and Risk Factors among Truck Drivers Visiting a Health Booth during a Trucker Trade Show [DOI]
  21. 21 Externalizing Behaviors and Cigarette Smoking as Predictors for Use of Illicit Drugs: A Longitudinal Study Among Finnish Adolescent Twins [DOI]
  22. 22 Cocaine use and the likelihood of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Follow-up Study.
  23. 23 Daytime sleepiness and sleep habits as risk factors of traffic accidents in a group of Turkish public transport drivers.
  24. 24 Psychoactive drug consumption among truck-drivers: a systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis and meta-regressions [DOI]
  25. 25 A pre/post evaluation of fatigue, stress and vigilance amongst commercially licensed truck drivers performing a prolonged driving task [DOI]
  26. 26 Trends in the use of psychoactive substances by truck drivers in São Paulo State, Brazil: A time-series cross sectional roadside survey (2009–2016) [DOI]
  27. 27 Alcohol Consumption, Risky Sexual Behaviors, and HIV in Nigeria: A Meta-Analytic Review [DOI]
  28. 28 Substance use and sociodemographic correlates among adolescents in a low-income sub Saharan setting [DOI]
  29. 29 ALCOHOL AND OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE AMONG TANKER DRIVERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
  30. 30 Truck Drivers’ Cigarette Smoking and Preferred Smoking Cessation Methods [DOI]
  31. 31 The prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking behavior among long-distance drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. [DOI]
  32. 32 Association between substance use and concurrent sexual relationships among urban slum dwellers in Nairobi, Kenya [DOI]
  33. 33 Profile of Problems and Risk Factors Associated with Tobacco Consumption among Professional Drivers in Nigeria [DOI]
  34. 34 Psychological Morbidity among Psychoactive Substance Users in a Rehabilitation Centre in Nigeria [DOI]
  35. 35 Assessment of the use and misuse of Cannabis sativa amongst some residents of Jos metropolis, Nigeria [DOI]
  36. 36 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Model Approach to Drugs Abuse in Nigeria between the Periods of 2004-2016 [DOI]
  37. 37 Biostatistics and Biometrics Open Access Journal [DOI]

Cited by 15

Urine Prevalence of Psychoactive Substances, Nicotine Exposure and Associated Factors Among Commercial Drivers. An Exploratory Study.

Gloria Amegatcher, Solomon Awiagah, Emmaculate Apogbila Nyaabire · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · 2026

Prevalence and health consequences of nonmedical use of tramadol in Africa: A systematic scoping review

Saidou Sabi Boun, Olumuyiwa Omonaiye, S. Yaya · PLOS Global Public Health · 2024

Tramadol regulation, illegal markets and consumption practices: exploring frictions of drug control in Nigeria

Ediomo-ubong E. Nelson, O. Odeigah, E. Dumbili · Drugs, Habits and Social Policy · 2023

Showing 8 of 15 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

63

Page views

0

PDF downloads

6

Outbound clicks

15

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.