Access to drug treatment services in Nigeria: the challenge of the addiction workforce

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the condition of the addiction workforce in Nigeria vis-a-vis its size and composition, certification of addiction professionals and other factors influencing access to drug treatment services in Nigeria.Methods: Participants for this study were 17 males and 13 females aged between 31 and 58 years drawn from people attending training on Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC 6, 7 & 8) at Nassarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.Results: Participants identified lack of trained addiction workforce as a factor with the highest weight in affecting access to drug treatment services in Nigeria. An analysis of the treatment teams showed that they are mainly made-up of the following professions: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Medical doctors, Nurses, Social workers and counsellors and only a team from one treatment center that has a record of a member that has completed training in Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC).Conclusion: The study revealed that while the prevalence of drug addiction is high, the size of addiction workforce to address the addiction problem is too small and professionally under-trained. In view of the this the researcher recommends that courses leading to professional training in SUD treatment should be introduced in higher institutions of learning such as schools of nursing and universities. This is to produce an adequate addiction work force. Furthermore, efforts should also be made to see that a system of taking a UTC certification exams online through CBT is introduced in Nigeria. This will address the continued waiting for those who have completed the UTC training but are kept waiting for a paper and pencil exam.

KEYWORDS:

• Access
• drug treatment
• challenge
• addiction workforce

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest, the authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this material.