Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria

Abdullahi Ibrahim; Yakubu Ibrahim Anas; Hamza Tajudeen Ismail; Ismail Shamsudeen; Bello Amira; Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai; Attahiru Abusufyan; Ahmad Mustapha; Abubakar Ahmad; Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu; Baguda Suleiman Abubakar; Akilu Abdallahi; Sarki Junaidu; Abubakar Sadiq; Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim; Umar Zubairu; Abdugaffar Yakubu; Attah Anthonia Nnnena; Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba; Sani Bako Abubakar; Nasir Umar Gwandu; Sabiu Aminu; Halid Isa Amina; Hogan-itam Grace Daniel; Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini; Abbas Yusuf Abubakar; Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado; Bioku Abass Ayodeji; Umar Faruk Adamu; Lawal Badru; Fahad Lawal

doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(2): 121-128

doi: 10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria

Abdullahi Ibrahim, Yakubu Ibrahim Anas, Hamza Tajudeen Ismail, Ismail Shamsudeen, Bello Amira, Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai, Attahiru Abusufyan, Ahmad Mustapha, Abubakar Ahmad, Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu, Baguda Suleiman Abubakar, Akilu Abdallahi, Sarki Junaidu, Abubakar Sadiq, Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Umar Zubairu, Abdugaffar Yakubu, Attah Anthonia Nnnena, Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba, Sani Bako Abubakar, Nasir Umar Gwandu, Sabiu Aminu, Halid Isa Amina, Hogan-itam Grace Daniel, Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini, Abbas Yusuf Abubakar, Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado, Bioku Abass Ayodeji, Umar Faruk Adamu, Lawal Badru, Fahad Lawal.

Abstract
Background: The age at which individuals initiate the abuse of psychoactive substances is crucial, as early onset can have devastating consequences, especially in the long term.
Objective: To determine the Sociodemographic determinants of age at initiation of Psychoactive Substance use among rehabilitation clients in Northwestern Nigeria
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at two drug rehabilitation centers. Clients were recruited consecutively over 2years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square is used to assess for associations, and binary logistic regression was used to assess for determinants, considering p < 0.05 as statistically significant
Results: Most participants initiated drug abuse at a younger age. The mean and modal age of initiating drug abuse were 19.45 years and 18 years, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between the age of onset and age category, marital status, religion, level of education, employment status, and family type. Education level, employment status, and family type remained as independent determinants.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the age of initiating the abuse of psychoactive substances coincides with adolescence and the young adult period and that multiple sociodemographic factors play a significant role.

Key words: Keywords: Drug abuse, Psychoactive substance, Rehabilitation, Nigeria, Drugs.

	ARTICLE TOOLS
	Abstract
	PDF Fulltext
	How to cite this article
	Citation Tools
	Related Records
	Articles by Abdullahi Ibrahim Articles by Yakubu Ibrahim Anas Articles by Hamza Tajudeen Ismail Articles by Ismail Shamsudeen Articles by Bello Amira Articles by Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai Articles by Attahiru Abusufyan Articles by Ahmad Mustapha Articles by Abubakar Ahmad Articles by Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu Articles by Baguda Suleiman Abubakar Articles by Akilu Abdallahi Articles by Sarki Junaidu Articles by Abubakar Sadiq Articles by Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim Articles by Umar Zubairu Articles by Abdugaffar Yakubu Articles by Attah Anthonia Nnnena Articles by Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba Articles by Sani Bako Abubakar Articles by Nasir Umar Gwandu Articles by Sabiu Aminu Articles by Halid Isa Amina Articles by Hogan-itam Grace Daniel Articles by Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini Articles by Abbas Yusuf Abubakar Articles by Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado Articles by Bioku Abass Ayodeji Articles by Umar Faruk Adamu Articles by Lawal Badru Articles by Fahad Lawal
	on Google
	on Google Scholar

How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Ibrahim A, Anas YI, Ismail HT, Shamsudeen I, Amira B, Abdulfatai BT, Abusufyan A, Mustapha A, Ahmad A, Shamsu AD, Abubakar BS, Abdallahi A, Junaidu S, Sadiq A, Ibrahim HA, Zubairu U, Yakubu A, Nnnena AA, Obiejemba NL, Abubakar SB, Gwandu NU, Aminu S, Amina HI, Daniel HG, Shamsuddini AI, Abubakar AY, Gidado IM, Ayodeji BA, Adamu UF, Badru L, Lawal F. Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(2): 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Web Style

Ibrahim A, Anas YI, Ismail HT, Shamsudeen I, Amira B, Abdulfatai BT, Abusufyan A, Mustapha A, Ahmad A, Shamsu AD, Abubakar BS, Abdallahi A, Junaidu S, Sadiq A, Ibrahim HA, Zubairu U, Yakubu A, Nnnena AA, Obiejemba NL, Abubakar SB, Gwandu NU, Aminu S, Amina HI, Daniel HG, Shamsuddini AI, Abubakar AY, Gidado IM, Ayodeji BA, Adamu UF, Badru L, Lawal F. Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jphcm/?mno=307227 [Access: June 07, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Ibrahim A, Anas YI, Ismail HT, Shamsudeen I, Amira B, Abdulfatai BT, Abusufyan A, Mustapha A, Ahmad A, Shamsu AD, Abubakar BS, Abdallahi A, Junaidu S, Sadiq A, Ibrahim HA, Zubairu U, Yakubu A, Nnnena AA, Obiejemba NL, Abubakar SB, Gwandu NU, Aminu S, Amina HI, Daniel HG, Shamsuddini AI, Abubakar AY, Gidado IM, Ayodeji BA, Adamu UF, Badru L, Lawal F. Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(2): 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Ibrahim A, Anas YI, Ismail HT, Shamsudeen I, Amira B, Abdulfatai BT, Abusufyan A, Mustapha A, Ahmad A, Shamsu AD, Abubakar BS, Abdallahi A, Junaidu S, Sadiq A, Ibrahim HA, Zubairu U, Yakubu A, Nnnena AA, Obiejemba NL, Abubakar SB, Gwandu NU, Aminu S, Amina HI, Daniel HG, Shamsuddini AI, Abubakar AY, Gidado IM, Ayodeji BA, Adamu UF, Badru L, Lawal F. Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. (2026), [cited June 07, 2026]; 5(2): 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Harvard Style

Ibrahim, A., Anas, . Y. I., Ismail, . H. T., Shamsudeen, . I., Amira, . B., Abdulfatai, . B. T., Abusufyan, . A., Mustapha, . A., Ahmad, . A., Shamsu, . A. D., Abubakar, . B. S., Abdallahi, . A., Junaidu, . S., Sadiq, . A., Ibrahim, . H. A., Zubairu, . U., Yakubu, . A., Nnnena, . A. A., Obiejemba, . N. L., Abubakar, . S. B., Gwandu, . N. U., Aminu, . S., Amina, . H. I., Daniel, . H. G., Shamsuddini, . A. I., Abubakar, . A. Y., Gidado, . I. M., Ayodeji, . B. A., Adamu, . U. F., Badru, . L. & Lawal, . F. (2026) Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med, 5 (2), 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Turabian Style

Ibrahim, Abdullahi, Yakubu Ibrahim Anas, Hamza Tajudeen Ismail, Ismail Shamsudeen, Bello Amira, Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai, Attahiru Abusufyan, Ahmad Mustapha, Abubakar Ahmad, Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu, Baguda Suleiman Abubakar, Akilu Abdallahi, Sarki Junaidu, Abubakar Sadiq, Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Umar Zubairu, Abdugaffar Yakubu, Attah Anthonia Nnnena, Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba, Sani Bako Abubakar, Nasir Umar Gwandu, Sabiu Aminu, Halid Isa Amina, Hogan-itam Grace Daniel, Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini, Abbas Yusuf Abubakar, Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado, Bioku Abass Ayodeji, Umar Faruk Adamu, Lawal Badru, and Fahad Lawal. 2026. Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (2), 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

Chicago Style

Ibrahim, Abdullahi, Yakubu Ibrahim Anas, Hamza Tajudeen Ismail, Ismail Shamsudeen, Bello Amira, Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai, Attahiru Abusufyan, Ahmad Mustapha, Abubakar Ahmad, Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu, Baguda Suleiman Abubakar, Akilu Abdallahi, Sarki Junaidu, Abubakar Sadiq, Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Umar Zubairu, Abdugaffar Yakubu, Attah Anthonia Nnnena, Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba, Sani Bako Abubakar, Nasir Umar Gwandu, Sabiu Aminu, Halid Isa Amina, Hogan-itam Grace Daniel, Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini, Abbas Yusuf Abubakar, Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado, Bioku Abass Ayodeji, Umar Faruk Adamu, Lawal Badru, and Fahad Lawal. "Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5 (2026), 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Ibrahim, Abdullahi, Yakubu Ibrahim Anas, Hamza Tajudeen Ismail, Ismail Shamsudeen, Bello Amira, Bakare Tomori Abdulfatai, Attahiru Abusufyan, Ahmad Mustapha, Abubakar Ahmad, Abdullahi Dangulbi Shamsu, Baguda Suleiman Abubakar, Akilu Abdallahi, Sarki Junaidu, Abubakar Sadiq, Hadi Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Umar Zubairu, Abdugaffar Yakubu, Attah Anthonia Nnnena, Ngozi Lucy Obiejemba, Sani Bako Abubakar, Nasir Umar Gwandu, Sabiu Aminu, Halid Isa Amina, Hogan-itam Grace Daniel, Abdulsalam Inuwa Shamsuddini, Abbas Yusuf Abubakar, Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado, Bioku Abass Ayodeji, Umar Faruk Adamu, Lawal Badru, and Fahad Lawal. "Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5.2 (2026), 121-128. Print. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Ibrahim, A., Anas, . Y. I., Ismail, . H. T., Shamsudeen, . I., Amira, . B., Abdulfatai, . B. T., Abusufyan, . A., Mustapha, . A., Ahmad, . A., Shamsu, . A. D., Abubakar, . B. S., Abdallahi, . A., Junaidu, . S., Sadiq, . A., Ibrahim, . H. A., Zubairu, . U., Yakubu, . A., Nnnena, . A. A., Obiejemba, . N. L., Abubakar, . S. B., Gwandu, . N. U., Aminu, . S., Amina, . H. I., Daniel, . H. G., Shamsuddini, . A. I., Abubakar, . A. Y., Gidado, . I. M., Ayodeji, . B. A., Adamu, . U. F., Badru, . L. & Lawal, . F. (2026) Sociodemographic Determinants of Age at Initiation of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Rehabilitation Clients in Northwestern Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (2), 121-128. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20260118102024