What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Addiction (Abingdon, England) on September 22, 2026.

Nigeria needs broader, evidence-based responses to substance use

Q: What did this Review find?

The review identifies *cannabis*, alcohol, and tobacco as long-standing substance-use concerns in Nigeria, with cocaine, heroin, and synthetic substances adding to the country’s evolving drug landscape.

Substance use and related problems in Nigeria: Research and policy perspectives.

Addiction (Abingdon, England) • September 22, 2026 • Review • Relevant

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AI Summary

This narrative synthesis examines substance use and related problems in Nigeria, drawing on academic and grey literature, policy documents, and reports from government and non-governmental organizations. It reviews epidemiology, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, policy, and addiction research rather than testing a specific cannabis intervention in a clinical or laboratory study.

The analysis describes a long-standing role for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis in Nigeria’s substance-use landscape, followed by cocaine and heroin trafficking and, more recently, increased use of synthetic opioids, stimulants, and depressants across West Africa. Government and civil-society responses include prevention, treatment for substance-use disorders, and harm-reduction services, but access remains insufficient and enforcement-based policy continues to dominate. The authors conclude that balanced policies prioritizing demand reduction and harm reduction, supported by better-funded research, are needed. Because this is a narrative review, it does not provide a quantitative estimate of cannabis effects or establish that any intervention causes better outcomes; this is an abstract-based summary and cannot assess the full evidence base beyond what the abstract reports.

💡 Key Findings

The review identifies cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco as long-standing substance-use concerns in Nigeria, with cocaine, heroin, and synthetic substances adding to the country’s evolving drug landscape.

High

85%

Nigeria has developed prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction responses, but services remain insufficient and access barriers persist for people who use substances.

High

90%

Despite some policy reforms, enforcement-based approaches remain dominant, while the authors call for a more balanced focus on demand reduction and harm reduction.

High

90%

National and regional data systems have supported public-health responses, but data collection remains irregular, and more qualitative research is needed to understand the contexts shaping substance use.

High

90%

📄 Original Abstract

AIM: To provide an overview and critical analysis of substance use and related problems in Nigeria within an evolving sub-regional and regional markets and policy landscapes. The analysis covers epidemiology, prevention, treatment and harm reduction as well as policy and research. METHODS: The analysis is based on narrative synthesis of available academic and grey literature, policy documents and relevant reports produced by government and non-governmental organizations. This synthesis captures trends in substance use, describes prevention and treatment programmes, analyses trends in policy and comments on the state of addiction science in Nigeria. RESULTS: There is a long history of consumption of psychoactive substances in Nigeria. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use were seen as problems to be addressed before independence in 1960. Cocaine and heroin joined the list as a spillover effect of their trafficking through West African countries to western markets beginning in the 1980s. A recent trend is the rise in the use of synthetic substances (opioids, stimulants and depressants) across West Africa. The rising problem of substance use has evoked a response from government and civil society in the form of substance use prevention, treatment services for substance use disorders and essential harm reduction services for people who inject substances or consume opioids. Yet, these services are insufficient and people who use substances face barriers to accessing treatment and harm reduction. Despite some reforms, especially implementation of essential harm reduction services, enforcement-based approaches remain dominant in Nigeria's policy as in most African countries. Commendably, mechanisms have been established to collate data on substance use and related harms at regional and sub-regional levels, which has helped to shape public health responses to substance use at country level. Nigeria has also conducted national surveys of substance use, with support from international partners. Nevertheless, data collection remains irregular and more qualitative studies are needed to provide insights into contextual factors shaping substance use. CONCLUSION: The rising level of substance use in Nigeria highlights the importance of a balanced and comprehensive policy that prioritizes demand and harm reduction measures. This requires funding for research to generate evidence to inform and shape interventions.