Consequences of Substance Abuse: Health & Psychology

MODULE 5

HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Alli Kafayat Owobamire

Health and Psychological Consequences of Substance Abuse

Advanced Substance/Drug Abuse

DSW 925

What is Substance Abuse?

Definition and Diagnostic Framework

Substance abuse refers to:

Harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances

Persistent use despite negative physical, psychological, and social consequences

KEY DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES

Loss of control over substance use

Cravings and compulsive consumption

Continued use despite health risks

Withdrawal symptoms

Epidemiological Overview

Substance abuse is a major global and national health concern with increasing prevalence among youth populations.

Particularly severe in urbanized regions of South-West Nigeria.

Urbanization

Youth Unemployment

Peer Pressure

Socio-Economic Inequalities

Alcohol

Cannabis

Tramadol

Codeine

Tobacco

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

BRAIN DISEASE MODEL OF ADDICTION

Addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by:

Neurobiological changes in reward pathways

Impaired decision making

Reduced self-control

Persistent vulnerability to relapse

Addiction requires medical and psychosocial treatment, not punishment.

Patterns of Substance Abuse in South-West Nigeria

Based on National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports

Alcohol

Cannabis

Tramadol

Codeine-based cough syrups

Tobacco

Emerging synthetic opioids

Lagos

Ogun

Oyo

Commercial Motorcyclists

Artisans

Urban Youth

PHYSICAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES

Major Health Effects of Substance Abuse

Liver cirrhosis

Hypertension

Injuries and accidents

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Cardiovascular complications

Seizures

Lung cancer

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Global health burden documented by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Injection Drug Use and Infectious Diseases

Though less common in Nigeria, injection drug use is emerging.

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Lagos

Ibadan

Increased healthcare costs

Long-term treatment needs

Increased mortality rates

Mental Health Consequences

Substance abuse strongly correlates with psychiatric disorders.

Depression

Anxiety disorders

Psychosis

Personality disorders

Clinical reports from Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba show high psychiatric comorbidity among substance users.

Dual Diagnosis

Substance Use Disorder + Mental Illness

Dual diagnosis occurs when substance use disorder co-exists with psychiatric illness.

Cannabis-induced psychosis

Alcohol-related depression

Drug-induced anxiety disorders

Poor treatment outcomes

Increased relapse risk

Complex clinical management

Addiction and Relapse Dynamics

Addiction follows a cycle of relapse and recovery.

Initiation

Regular Use

Dependency

Withdrawal

Relapse

Factors Contributing to Relapse

Peer Pressure

Poverty

Social Stigma

Lack of Rehabilitation Services

Social and Economic Consequences

Substance abuse affects not only individuals but also society.

Family Level

Domestic violence

Family breakdown

Child neglect

Economic Level

Loss of productivity

Increased healthcare costs

Social Level

Crime

Community instability

Understanding these consequences is essential for comprehensive societal intervention.

Burden on the Healthcare System

Healthcare institutions face multiple challenges due to substance abuse.

Rising emergency admissions

Psychiatric hospital overcrowding

Limited rehabilitation centers

Insufficient addiction specialists

Fragmented healthcare response

Particularly in:

Lagos

Ogun

Healthcare response remains fragmented.

DRUG POLICY CHALLENGES

IN NIGERIA

Nigeria's drug policy focuses largely on punitive measures.

CRIMINALIZATION

ARREST

INCARCERATION

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Policy gaps limit access to treatment and rehabilitation.

Social Work and Public Health Interventions

Social workers play a critical role in addressing substance abuse.

Community Interventions

Prevention education

Community awareness campaigns

Treatment Support

Psychosocial counseling

Family therapy

Policy Advocacy

Harm reduction strategies

Integrated treatment models

NGOs

Faith-based organizations

Government agencies

Conclusion

Substance abuse in South-West Nigeria presents serious health and psychological challenges.

Causes physical illnesses and psychiatric disorders

Creates cycles of addiction and relapse

Places heavy burdens on healthcare systems

Requires integrated, community-based solutions

Evidence-based treatment programs

Reduced stigma

Policy reforms

Strengthened rehabilitation systems

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). APA Publishing.

Volkow, N.D. et al. (2016). Neurobiologic Advances from the Brain Disease Model of Addiction. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 363–371.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014, 2020). Alcohol and Public Health. CDC.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (2023). Drug Report. NDLEA, Abuja.

Rehm, J. et al. (2009). Global burden of disease and injury attributable to alcohol. Addiction, 104(7), 1086–1132.

Room, R. (2005). Stigma, social inequality and alcohol and drug use. Drug and Alcohol Review, 24(2), 143–155.