Journal of Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the influence of pharmacy and chemist practices on drug abuse behaviour in Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and a total of 73 respondents were purposively sampled from two residential areas Layin mahauta and Layin gonan ganye within Tudun Wada community. The instrument for data collection is the Pharmacy/Chemist Drug Abuse Questionnaire (PCDAQ) this instrument is a structured questionnaire and it consists of two (2) sessions A and B. Towards facilitating data analysis and better decision, the researcher classified - Strongly Agree (SA) 4, Agree (A)3, Disagree (D) 2 and Strongly Disagree (SD)1. For the analysis of data, descriptive statistics was used, such frequency, mean and standard deviations and relative ranking of each of the items. The findings revealed that 94.5% of respondents identified pharmacies and chemists as the primary source of prescription drug abuse, with 80.8% affirming that pharmacists often fail to verify prescriptions thoroughly. Poverty (93.2%), peer pressure (87.7%), and the use of drugs to cope with depression, anxiety, and stress (94.5%) emerged as dominant causal factors, while severe consequences included criminal activities (79.5%) and premature death (74.0%).The study concluded that the influence of pharmacy and chemist practices on drug abuse behaviour is substantially high, with pharmacies and chemists serving as the primary source of diverted prescription drugs, driven by poverty, peer pressure, and mental health challenges. The study recommended stricter regulatory oversight on pharmacies and chemists, community-based programs to address peer pressure and mental health, intensified public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of community counselling centres and youth empowerment programs. Further studies should focus on evaluating regulatory effectiveness, conducting mixed-methods research involving pharmacy operators, comparing licensed and unlicensed outlets, and implementing longitudinal studies on community-based interventions.

Keywords: Drug Abuse; Prescription Diversion; Pharmacies/Chemists; Mental Health; Personal Disorders; Sleep Disorders; Anxiety