RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the precipitants of relapse among patients admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital in Nigeria for substance abuse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of consecutive admitted drug abuse patients was carried out at the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, using Marlatt's categories to measure high risk situations for relapse. RESULTS: Eighty-two subjects who were mostly male (87.9%), never married (53.7%), privately employed (58.5%), professionals (32%) with mean age 31.2 (+/- 6.56) years were evaluated. Most had used two or three different drugs. Coping with negative emotional states or enhancement of positive emotions were the main reasons for relapse determinants given by the subjects. Substance abuse management in Nigeria should embrace inquiries into these emotional states during both the admission and the post-discharge periods. CONCLUSION: Routine use of Marlatt' relapse precipitant categories may be helpful in designing intervention strategies to sustain abstinence in Nigerian drug abuser.
