Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Use among Long Distance Commercial Drivers in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: The abuse of psychoactive substances has become a global menace that threatens the entire society because of its dire consequences. It has been observed that driving a vehicle under the influence of psychoactive substances is a growing cause of fatal road traffic accidents. In Nigeria, road transportation is a major means of movement of persons and goods, and long distance commercial drivers play a crucial role in this regards. These drivers sometimes use psychoactive substances to remain energetic and alert.

Aims: To examine the pattern of psychoactive substance use among long distance commercial drivers in Calabar with the view of obtaining information that may be useful for social monitoring and planning preventive strategies.

Methodology: A two-stage cross-sectional survey which lasted for three weeks, involving one hundred randomly selected (using table of random number) long distance commercial drivers drawn from the seven major motor parks in Calabar. These drivers had CAGE-AID and Socio-demographic questionnaires administered on them at the first stage of the study. Those that scored 1 and above on the CAGE-AID questionnaire were further interviewed using the computerized version of drug and alcohol module of the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in order to generate psychiatric diagnoses.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36.43 (SD 8.01). The most commonly used substance was alcohol (by 82% of the respondents) while the least commonly used was cocaine (used by 5% of the respondents). Some of the respondents use combination of substances. The most commonly used combination was alcohol/tobacco (used by 66%). Forty-three respondents (43%) reported using “combine” which is a mixture of cannabis leaves and seeds in local gin.

Hired drivers were significantly more likely (than owner drivers) to use cannabis (P=.04), alcohol (P=.02), tobacco (P=.01) and “combine” (P=.04).

The study recorded road traffic accident rate of 19% with some occurring under the influence of psychoactive substances.

Following the SCAN interview, Thirty two (76.2%) out of the 42 respondents that scored 1 or above on the CAGE-AID questionnaire had psychiatric diagnoses. The commonest of these diagnoses were alcohol and cannabis related disorders.

Conclusion: There is a wide spread use of psychoactive substances by long distance commercial drivers and this is associated with road traffic accidents as well as diagnosable psychiatric disorders. This calls for urgent interventions by relevant agencies of government.