Page 61 - ITPS-8-1

INNOSC Theranostics and
Pharmacological Sciences Opioid use among Nigerian students

to develop a comprehensive plan for combating opioid use. Ethics approval and consent to participate
Multidisciplinary methods that include stakeholders from
multiple sectors can improve the efficacy of preventive Not applicable.
and intervention activities. For example, collaborations Consent for publication
between universities and healthcare institutions can help
design comprehensive educational programs that provide Not applicable.
students with the required knowledge and skills to manage Availability of data
the intricacies of opioid use and misuse. Furthermore,
20
multinational cooperation can facilitate information Not applicable.
exchange and sharing of best practices, boosting the global
response to the opioid pandemic (Table 1). References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding
12. Conclusion the Opioid Overdose Epidemic; 2021. Available from: https://

This review highlights the multifaceted nature of opioid www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html [Last accessed
misuse among Nigerian students, involving social, on 2024 May 03].
cultural, economic, and personal factors. Addressing 2. Ashrafioun L, Carels RA. Prescription opioid use among
this issue requires intersectoral coordination among university students: Assessment of post-cue exposure
the government, healthcare providers, communities, craving. Addict Behav. 2014;39(3):586-592.
and educational institutions. Effective coordination doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.11.012
is important for implementing opioid prevention and 3. Jones CM, Clayton HB, Deputy NP, et al. Prescription opioid
protection measures in Nigeria should be channeled misuse and use of alcohol and other substances among high
through. Strategies should include health promotion, school students - youth risk behavior survey, United States,
targeted protection, early diagnosis, prompt treatment, 2019. MMWR Suppl. 2020;69(1):38-46.
and rehabilitation of affected individuals. Despite some
progress in preventing opioid misuse in Nigeria, it efforts doi: 10.15585/mmwr.su6901a5
are often hindered by insufficient law enforcement and 4. Weyandt LL, Gudmundsdottir BG, Holding EZ, et al.
healthcare facilities. Educational programs, along with Prescription opioid misuse among university students:
rehabilitation efforts such as counseling or peer support A systematic review. J Am Coll Health. 2022;70(4):1119-1137.
groups, should be equally prioritized. Moreover, ongoing doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1786095
research, including cohort studies, case reports, and cross- 5. Brands B, Paglia-Boak A, Sproule BA, Leslie K, Adlaf
sectional studies, is necessary to generate accurate data EM. Nonmedical use of opioid analgesics among Ontario
on knowledge, awareness, practice, and prevalence of the students. Can Fam Phys Med. 2010;56(3):256-262.
issue. This narrative review will contribute to the quality 6. Akande-Sholabi W, Adisa R, Ilesanmi OS, Bello AE. The
assessment of opioid misuse prevention, particularly in extent of misuse and dependence of codeine-containing
Nigeria, and help combat the issue effectively. products among medical and pharmacy students in a

Acknowledgments Nigerian University. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1709.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-8074-5
None.
7. Ajayi A, Akhigbe R. Assessment of sexual behaviour and
Funding fertility indices in male rabbits following chronic codeine
use. Andrology. 2019;8(2):509-515.
None.
doi: 10.1111/andr.12717
Conflict of interest 8. Ajayi AI, Somefun OD. Recreational drug use among
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Nigerian university students: Prevalence, correlates and
frequency of use. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(5):e0232964.
Author contributions doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232964
Conceptualization: Malik Olatunde Oduoye, Omotayo 9. Niguse L, Sosengo T. Knowledge and reasons for use of
Faith Olanrewaju analgesic medications among Haramaya University College
Writing–original draft: All the authors of Health and Medical Science students, Harar town, East
Writing–review & editing: Malik Olatunde Oduoye, Ethiopia. J Clin Surg Res. 2021;2(2):1-7.
Maryam Tariq doi: 10.31579/2768-2757/012

Volume 8 Issue 1 (2025) 55 doi: 10.36922/itps.3894