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Assessing the Availability of Community-Based Counselling Models for Sustainable Drug Use Reduction Among Substance Abusers in Nigeria

Bahago, Samaila Benedict, Okhiria, Esi Joy, Michael, Olawala OJO PhD, GOTIP, Nehemiah Wokji, Uchenna, Eucharia Enem

Abstract

Substance abuse among Nigerian youths and adults has escalated into a public health crisis, severely overwhelming institutional psychiatric and law enforcement frameworks. This empirical study evaluated the availability, accessibility, and operational capacity of community-based counselling models—specifically Cognitive Behavioural Therapy , Motivational Interviewing (MI), Faith-Based/Spiritual Counselling , and Peer Mentorship/Support Groups , for sustainable drug use reduction in Nigeria. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study targeted a population of 12,450 key community stakeholders across six geopolitical zones, from which a representative sample of 1,200 respondents was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a validated 45-item structured questionnaire titled the Community-Based Counselling Models and Drug Reduction Questionnaire (CBCM-DRQ). Instrument reliability was established via Cronbach’s alpha (α= 0.88). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) answered four research questions, while Inferential Statistics (t-test and regression analysis at α= 0.05) tested four null hypotheses. Findings revealed that while Faith-Based Counselling and Peer Mentorship models are moderately available, clinical models such as CBT and Motivational Interviewing remain severely scarce and under-resourced at the community level. Furthermore, the availability of integrated community counselling models significantly predicted long-term drug use reduction (R2 = 0.412, p< 0.001). Key operational barriers identified include systemic stigma, acute shortages of licensed community counsellors, and poor funding integration with Primary Health Care systems. The study provides a strategic blueprint for decentralizing addiction treatment through community-driven framework policy integration in Nigeria.

Keywords

Community-Based CounsellingDrug Use ReductionSubstance AbuseNigeriaCognitive Behavioural TherapyFaith-Based InterventionPublic Health Policy.

References

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