86% of Kenyan Methadone Patients Tested Positive for Cannabis at Baseline
Among 874 methadone patients in Nairobi, cannabis use was extremely common at 85.8% at baseline and remained high at 62.7% during follow-up, alongside widespread polysubstance use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis prevalence was 85.8% at baseline and 62.7% during follow-up among methadone patients. Opioids, cannabis, and benzodiazepines were the most commonly co-used substances. University education was associated with lower cannabis use (OR 0.1).
Key Numbers
Baseline cannabis prevalence: 85.8% (95% CI 83.3-88.0). Follow-up prevalence: 62.7% (95% CI 59.5-65.8). Mean age: 35.3 years. 76% unemployed. 51.4% had primary-level education. 48.5% divorced or separated. University education OR for cannabis use: 0.1 (95% CI 0.02-0.8).
How They Did This
Retrospective study of 874 patients enrolled in a methadone maintenance program in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 2014 to November 2018. Cannabis use was determined by urine drug screens. Demographic data was collected from patient files.
Why This Research Matters
Methadone programs in sub-Saharan Africa are relatively new, and understanding co-occurring substance use patterns is critical for designing effective treatment. The extremely high cannabis prevalence suggests it should be addressed as part of opioid treatment.
The Bigger Picture
Most research on cannabis use in opioid treatment comes from North America and Europe. This study highlights that polysubstance use patterns in East Africa may require different treatment approaches, particularly given the much higher cannabis co-use rates than typically reported in Western settings.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
This is a single-site study in one Kenyan city. Urine drug screens detect recent use but do not measure frequency or quantity. The retrospective design limits the ability to determine whether cannabis use affected methadone treatment outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis use during methadone treatment affect retention or opioid relapse rates in this population?
- ?Would integrated cannabis interventions improve methadone treatment outcomes?
- ?How do these patterns compare to other East African methadone programs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 85.8% cannabis prevalence at methadone enrollment
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large sample from a real-world clinical setting, though limited to a single site and retrospective design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022, covering data from 2014-2018.
- Original Title:
- The prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Published In:
- Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 17(1), 12 (2022)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04099
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did cannabis use decrease during methadone treatment?
Cannabis prevalence dropped from 85.8% at baseline to 62.7% during follow-up, suggesting some reduction, but rates remained high. The study could not determine whether methadone treatment caused the decline.
Why was cannabis use so high in this group?
The study did not investigate reasons, but the high rates likely reflect both the general pattern of polysubstance use among people with opioid dependence and the specific drug use context in Kenya.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04099APA
Ngarachu, Elizabeth Wambui; Kiburi, Sarah Kanana; Owiti, Frederick R; Kangethe, Rachel. (2022). The prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 17(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00437-7
MLA
Ngarachu, Elizabeth Wambui, et al. "The prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.." Substance abuse treatment, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00437-7
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients at..." RTHC-04099. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ngarachu-2022-the-prevalence-and-pattern
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.