Drug Use Among Nigerian Prison Inmates Was Lower Than Western Countries but Showed Concerning Patterns
Among Nigerian prisoners, 7% currently used cannabis with 71% of users classified as heavy users, and cannabis use was associated with prior criminal history more than other substances.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
All inmates of a Nigerian medium-security prison who consented were interviewed about substance use before and during imprisonment.
Current use rates were: tobacco (13.7%), hypnosedatives (11.4%), alcohol (10.7%), stimulants (9.6%), cannabis (7%), and smaller percentages for opioids, inhalants, cocaine, and heroin. Notably, these rates were only slightly lower than pre-imprisonment rates for most substances, indicating continued access within prison.
Among current cannabis users, 71.4% were classified as "heavy users," the highest heavy-use proportion of any substance. Cannabis use was specifically associated with previous arrests for drug offenses, previous imprisonment, and being held for a major offense, suggesting a link between cannabis use and criminality patterns.
An unexpected finding was the emergence of pethidine/morphine use (2.3%), suggesting injecting drug use may be developing among Nigerian prisoners.
Key Numbers
Current use rates: tobacco 13.7%, hypnosedatives 11.4%, alcohol 10.7%, stimulants 9.6%, cannabis 7%. Cannabis heavy use: 71.4%. Pethidine/morphine: 2.3% (emerging). Rates similar to pre-imprisonment.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of all consenting inmates at Ilesa medium-security prison, Nigeria. Structured interviews covered sociodemographic information, substance use history before and during imprisonment, and imprisonment-related factors.
Why This Research Matters
This study provided data from a non-Western setting where substance use patterns differ from those typically studied. The finding that drug use rates barely decreased during imprisonment highlighted the need for drug prevention programs within the Nigerian criminal justice system.
The Bigger Picture
While drug use rates were lower than Western prison populations, the patterns were concerning: continued access to substances during imprisonment, high rates of heavy use among cannabis users, and emerging injection drug use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single prison in one Nigerian city may not represent national patterns. Self-reported drug use in prison may be underreported due to consequences. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causal relationships. Small numbers for some substances limit analysis.
Questions This Raises
- ?What explains the specific association between cannabis use and criminal history?
- ?Would prison-based drug treatment programs reduce both substance use and recidivism in Nigeria?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 71% of prison cannabis users were classified as heavy users; use barely decreased during imprisonment
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a single-site cross-sectional survey with limited generalizability, providing preliminary evidence about substance use patterns in this specific prison setting.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2009. Substance use patterns in Nigerian prisons and the broader African context have continued to evolve.
- Original Title:
- Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among a sample of prison inmates in Ilesa, Nigeria.
- Published In:
- The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal, 16(2), 109-14 (2009)
- Authors:
- Amdzaranda, P A, Fatoye, F O, Oyebanji, A O, Ogunro, A S, Fatoye, G K
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00344
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why was cannabis uniquely linked to criminal history?
Cannabis use was associated with prior arrests, previous imprisonment, and major offenses more than other substances. This could reflect cannabis's legal status, the social context of use, or its association with specific criminal networks in Nigeria.
How do these rates compare to Western prisons?
The overall rates were lower than typically reported in Western countries, but the patterns (continued access during imprisonment, high rates of heavy use) were similar, suggesting shared challenges across very different criminal justice systems.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00344APA
Amdzaranda, P A; Fatoye, F O; Oyebanji, A O; Ogunro, A S; Fatoye, G K. (2009). Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among a sample of prison inmates in Ilesa, Nigeria.. The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal, 16(2), 109-14.
MLA
Amdzaranda, P A, et al. "Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among a sample of prison inmates in Ilesa, Nigeria.." The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal, 2009.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among a s..." RTHC-00344. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/amdzaranda-2009-factors-associated-with-psychoactive
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.