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INNOSC Theranostics

and Pharmacological Sciences

REVIEW ARTICLE
Opioid use among Nigerian students: Exploring

knowledge gaps and preventive strategies

Abdullahi Adeyemi Adegoke 1,2 , Maryam Tariq 3 , Syed Muhammad ,
4
Malik Olatunde Oduoye * , Maryam Imam 6 , Omotayo Faith Olanrewaju 7 ,
5
John Adole Inalegwu 8 , Abisola Motunrayo Ojebola 9 ,and

Samuel Chinonso Ubechu 10
1 Department of Pharmacy, Iwo College of Health Science and Technology, Iwo Osun State, Nigeria
2 Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria, Nigeria
3 Department of Medicine, Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan
4 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Farooqia College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, India
5 Department of Research, The Medical Research Circle (MedReC), Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
6 Divison of Epidemiology and Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
7 Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria
8 Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria
9 Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
10 Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, United
States of America

*Corresponding author:
Malik Olatunde Oduoye Abstract
(malikolatunde36@gmail.com)
Citation: Adegoke AA, Tariq M, The increasing rate of opioid consumption among Nigerian students is alarming.
Muhammad S, et al. Opioid use Despite the therapeutic benefits of opioids, their excessive use could be detrimental.
among Nigerian students: Exploring Exploring knowledge gaps and implementing preventive strategies are necessary
knowledge gaps and preventive
strategies. INNOSC Theranostics to curb opioid misuse among Nigerian students. This review aimed to identify the
and Pharmacological Sciences. prevalence estimates of non-prescribed opioid use among Nigerian students and
2025;8(1):47-58. explore the cultural and societal factors favoring opioid and other drug use in this
doi: 10.36922/itps.3894
population. It further aimed to provide and discuss strategies that could offer
Submitted: June 7, 2024 effective and long-lasting solutions for Nigerian policymakers to curb opioid use
Revised: September 7, 2024 among Nigerian students. A systematic search strategy identified relevant studies
from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords such as opioid
Accepted: November 28, 2024
misuse, students, Nigeria, prevention strategies, and opioid use disorder. Articles on
Published online: January 2, 2025 the prevalence rates, associated factors, and preventive measures were extracted.
Copyright: © 2025 This The findings revealed a high prevalence of opioid use among Nigerian students,
is an Open-Access article particularly in the southwestern (7.87%) and northeastern (6.57%) parts of Nigeria.
distributed under the terms Approximately 4.6 million Nigerians, constituting 4.7% of the population, have used
of the Creative Commons
AttributionNoncommercial License, opioids for non-medical purposes. Tramadol and codeine are the most commonly
permitting all non-commercial use, misused opioids. Cultural practices and belief systems often impact the knowledge,
distribution, and reproduction in any attitudes, and perceptions of opioid use among students. Efforts to prevent and control
medium, provided the original work
is properly cited. opioid misuse in Nigeria should focus on effective coordination among students.
Health-promotion measures and specific protection should be promoted alongside
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and rehabilitation of affected individuals.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional
affiliations Keywords: Opioid misuse; Students; Nigeria; Prevention strategies; Opioid use disorder

Volume 8 Issue 1 (2025) 47 doi: 10.36922/itps.3894