PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE IN FEMALES. A THREE YEAR REVIEW OF PATIENTS ON ADMISSION AT AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA.

Background : Psychoactive Substance dependence is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder characterized by uncontrollable drug use despite negative physical, social and psychological consequences. Although regarded as a mainly male affair in the past, recent trends indicate that more females are becoming involved. Materials and Method: Data was collected from the case notes of all patients admitted into Centre for Addiction treatment Vom between January 2014 and December 2016 . Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 . Results. There was a progressive increase in the number of female admissions. Their ages range from 16 to 47 years and 88.9 % were multiple substance abusers. Psycho-stimulants were the commonest substance of abuse among the females with a high rate of abuse of prescription medications, the commonest being tramadol. Injecting drug use was uncommon. Conclusion: Females are increasingly becoming involved in substance use.