Until the recent past, information on the drug abuse situation in the country was minimal and largely based on studies on in-school population and small populations in the urban areas. Between 1998 and date, UNDCP has sponsored many rapid assessments and generated reports on: the social, economic and political analysis of illicit drug trend in Nigeria (CASSAD, 1998); situation analysis of the preventive programmes being implemented by NGOs in Demand Reduction in Nigeria (Adelekan, 1998); Rapid assessments of drug use/situation in 4 communities, 1 school and selected brothels/hotels (Emafo ed., UNDCP Information Series No. 1-6, 1999); rapid situation assessment of drug abuse in Nigeria (NDLEA/UNDCP, 1999); and rapid assessment of treatment and rehabilitation facilities for drug dependent persons in Nigeria (Adelekan et al, UNDCP Information Series No. 7, 2000).

The general picture emerging from these assessments is one of widespread and an estimated lifetime consumption of cannabis (10.8%), followed by psychotropic substances (mainly the benzodiapines and amphetamine-type stimulants) 10.6%, and to lesser degree heroin (1.6%) and cocaine (1.4%) in both urban and rural areas. The use of volatile organic solvents (.053%) is reported to becoming popular, especially among the street children, in-school youth and women. All the six zones of the country reported multiple drug use (7.88%) to varying degrees. For both organic solvents and multiple drug use, there is greater prevalence in the rural than urban areas.

Abuse of various local plants has been reported in the studies, among the youth and the unemployed; these include smoking of PawPaw leaves and the seeds of Zakami "Datura metel), which grows widely in most of the North Western and North Central regions of Nigeria. Overall, the age of first use and pattern of abuse confirm the 10 - 29 years' age as the most vulnerable group in drug abuse in Nigeria. In addition, a high use rate of cannabis, cocaine and heroin was found among Commercial Sex Workers (CSW), commercial drivers, self-confessed drug users, the unemployed, motor park touts and law enforcement agents. On gender distribution of drug abuse, there appears to be more current male (94.2%) than female (5.8%). However, there is increasing drug specific use among current than past users e.g. cannabis, heroin, psychotropic substances and multiple drugs.

There are myriad of reasons for the prevalence of drug abuse in the population. These include socio-cultural displacement of the young people through rapid urbanization and modernization, general poverty levels that increase the vulnerability of children to street or peer pressure for survival and the believe among CSW, Laborers, commercial drivers and law enforcement agents that narcotics increases energy for tedious and long hours of work. Overall, the easy availability and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in the country, increases exposure of the vulnerable and subsequent use.

The intake of most drugs abused in the country is through smoking (cannabis and other local leaves), inhalation or sniffing (organic solvents, cocaine, heroin), chewing (local leaves or "Zakami") and licking or swallowing (psychotropic drugs). Following the recently concluded WHO/FMOH/University of Ilorin study on drug abuse in Lagos, Nigeria, Injecting Drug Use (IDU) is now common among street youth or 'area Boys'. This addition to the routes of drug abuse in the country has compounded the issues of HIV/AIDS/STD problem. It also corroborates recent reports that some cases of HIV/AIDS have been transmitted through drug injection. The National AIDS/STD Control Program (NASCAP) 1998/99-sentinel report on HIV sero-prevalence in Nigeria estimates 5.4% of the population. The HIV epidemic has now reached every community/locality and as one of the most populous countries of the world to have crossed the 5.0% prevalence mark, it is a significant threshold based on epidemiological experience; hence there may be an explosive turn.

The highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is in the young age group of 12 -24 years, thus indicating recent massive increase of prevalence as well as the grave implication for national development. With an estimated 2.6 Million adults already infected, the number of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in Nigeria is larger than the population of some countries put together.