Abstract

This study explored the predictive role of demographic characteristics in psychoactive substance use disorders. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing accidental sampling techniques to recruit 153 psychoactive substance users from the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Nigeria. Among the participants, 123 (80.4%) were male, 30 (19.6%) were female, and the mean age was 28.6 years. The substances identified as most problematic in terms of cessation included tramadol (56.2%), cannabis (46.3%), and cigarettes (37.9%), respectively. However, demographic characteristics did not significantly predict psychoactive substance use disorders (R = 0.145; F(3, 149) = 1.04; p > 0.005). The findings indicate that while tramadol, cannabis, and cigarettes were perceived as the most problematic substances upon cessation, demographic factors did not emerge as significant predictors of substance use disorders. The study recommends that the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant bodies enhance efforts to track the activities of drug traffickers, as well as subsidize substance abuse rehabilitation programs to increase accessibility.