Sociodemographic correlates of substance use among long distance commercial vehicle drivers

Abstract

Background: Psychoactive substance use by vehicle drivers is a global problem. The identification of factors associated with their use among long-distance commercial drivers will provide information valuable to the interventions aimed at the control of this pattern of behavior. Objective: To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with the use of psychoactive substances among long distance commercial vehicle drivers in Kaduna, a city in Northwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Long distance drivers from selected motor parks in Kaduna metropolis were recruited. They were interviewed using a sociodemographic and a brief drug use questionnaire, two screening instruments which included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. Results: All 274 subjects were males, with a mean age of 43.4 ± 10.2 years. 94.9% of the subjects were married, 78.5% of them were Muslims, and 67.5% had received a formal education of at least primary school level. Younger drivers were more likely to use cannabis, P Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors influence substance use among long distance drivers, and these characteristics can be explored as the focus in directing drug use control intervention.