Non-Medical Opioid Use in Ethiopia: An Exploratory Descriptive Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Substance Abuse Research
• Qualitative and Quantitative Health Studies

Background:

• Non-medical opioid use presents severe risks including addiction, overdose, and infectious diseases (HIV, HBV, HCV).
• Limited data exists on non-medical opioid use in Ethiopia, a country lacking harm-reduction programs.
• This study explores the experiences of non-medical opioid users accessing healthcare in Addis Ababa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patterns, reasons, and consequences of non-medical opioid use.
• To understand help-seeking behaviors among non-medical opioid users in Addis Ababa.
• To identify the prevalence of non-medical opioid use within healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A phenomenological qualitative study design was used, supplemented by descriptive quantitative data.
• In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 purposively selected participants.
• Hospital data from 47 opioid users were reviewed, with thematic and descriptive statistical analyses applied.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: patterns of use, reasons for use, access strategies, perceived consequences, and help-seeking.
• Of 47 opioid users in Addis Ababa hospitals, 43% were healthcare professionals.
• Daily use (76.6%) and polysubstance use (53.2%) were common, with tramadol being the predominant opioid.

Conclusions:

• Non-medical opioid use poses significant, life-threatening risks and complex challenges requiring immediate intervention.
• Further large-scale studies are needed to understand the burden of opioid use in Ethiopia.
• Intervention research and development of harm-reduction guidelines are crucial for improving care.