Mental health experts are worried about the increasing number of Nigerian health workers using drugs. They warn that this could seriously affect the quality of healthcare services in the country.
Psychiatrists say that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others who work closely with medications are now abusing them. This is mostly because they have easy access to drugs and are under a lot of stress from work.
Experts believe that the drug use is not just from stress or burnout but also because many health workers use unhealthy ways to cope.
Speaking to reporters, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Sunday Amosu explained that some health workers are turning to drugs because they feel burned out, anxious, or depressed.
He said that many start using drugs to treat real health problems, but over time they become addicted and start abusing the drugs.
Dr. Amosu said, “Today, health workers themselves are having drug problems. They are injecting drugs because they have access. I’ve seen many cases – doctors, nurses, and pharmacists included.”He added that painkillers and sedatives are commonly misused. Some inject drugs like pentazocine or mix it with others like tomatazine. Some take diazepam to help them sleep. They may start using it for pain, but later begin enjoying the high it gives them.
Dr. Amosu said burnout is a major reason why health workers misuse drugs. This often overlaps with anxiety and depression.
He explained that the first sign of mental problems is usually poor sleep – either not being able to sleep or waking up feeling tired. Nightmares may also be a warning sign.
He warned that if sleep problems continue, many health workers begin self-medicating with sleeping pills or anxiety drugs. This can lead to addiction.
“They may take drugs like bromazepam, Lexotan, or diazepam – these are called benzodiazepines. They know how the drugs work, so they take them without a prescription. But after two or three weeks, the body builds tolerance, so they take more and more. Eventually, the drug stops working,” he said.
Dr. Amosu also pointed out that alcohol abuse is growing among health workers who can’t cope with stress and sleeplessness.
“Both men and women are affected. Instead of seeking help, many try to fix the problem themselves in unhealthy ways,” he said.
He added that health workers often keep their problems secret. They don’t want others to judge them, so they suffer in silence. By the time they seek help, it may already be too late.
Another expert, Dr. Kehinde Oderinde, a drug addiction specialist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, said there are clear signs of drug abuse. These include changes in behavior, appearance, weight, and withdrawal symptoms.
He said that recognizing these signs early can help the person get support and recover.
“People who use drugs often become secretive and isolate themselves. They may have mood swings, get angry easily, or seem depressed without a clear reason,” he explained.
Dr. Oderinde also mentioned physical signs like red eyes, large pupils, sleep problems, weight changes, and poor hygiene. Slurred speech, shaky hands, and trouble with coordination can also be signs.
He added that people struggling with drug use may become defensive or aggressive when asked about it. They may have strong cravings or withdrawal symptoms, and they often suffer from anxiety or depression too.
A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 – that’s 14.3 million people – use drugs.
The report said that 1 in 7 Nigerians in this age group has used a drug other than tobacco or alcohol in the last year.
It also showed that 1 in 5 people who are at high risk of drug problems inject drugs.
The most injected drugs are painkillers (pharmaceutical opioids), followed by cocaine and heroin. While more men inject drugs, women are more likely to inject heroin.
Supporting these findings, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says that over 14 million Nigerians, including children and teens, misuse drugs.
