Benjamin. O Olley
B.O. Olley. Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
BACKGROUND. The “bar culture”: a phenomenon where people patronize bars and drug joints for recreation and relaxation purposes is well observed as a way to attenuate the impact of economic hardship among young Nigerians.
METHODS. Initial exploratory study involving observation and focus group discussion (FGD) were undertaken in market located bars, patronized mainly by “Street Adults” and commercial drivers. This resulted into a 65-item Ibadan Bar Patrons Drug Study Questionnaire (IBPSQ) that was administered to 146 randomized time location sampling (TLS) of adults in each sampled bars within Ibadan.
RESULTS. One hundred and one (76%) were males; 65% were never married; 3.4% abode on the streets and 25.3% were casual workers. The overall drug use was high, with 79.5% of bar patrons reporting use of alcohol; 72.6%, opioids; 12.3%, stimulants; 16.%, hallucinogens; and 16.4%, tranquillizers. Ten weed variants were explored and identified as common drugs of use among Bar Patrons in Ibadan, with full weed (66%) having been the most frequently used across life time to the current usage. The least weed variant used across life time three months and current use is Poury with less than 20% among the Patrons. Among the highest and commonly used weed variants across life time among the Bar Patrons include: SK (63%; 47.9% & 46.5%), Paw-Paw 53.4%; 43.2 &39.7%), Arizona (49.3%; 43.2% & 34.4%). For the least used weed variants across life time include: Gegemu (79.5%; 87.7% % 88.4%), Colorado (60.3%; 67.8% & 70.2%). Striking pattern observed in the use of these drugs is the increasing and decreasing use of some drugs.
CONCLUSION. These initial findings provide evidence that weed strains are commonly used drugs in bars/joints among bar patrons and that these drugs are used in combination, thereby forming a cocktail of pleasant attractions. More explorative study about its acceptability and availability is needed.