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Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2637-8892/061
1 Clinical and Pathological Psychology, University of Yaounde I.
2 Master in Clinical and Pathological Psychology, University of Yaounde I.
*Corresponding Author: NDJE NDJE MIREILLE, Clinical and Pathological Psychology, University of Yaounde
Citation: NDJE NDJE MIREILLE, LONGCHI Gladys NAHLELA (2019) Family Life Experiences and the Abusive Consumption of Tramadol by Adolescents, J. Psychology and Mental Health Care. 3(4); DOI: 10.31579/2637-8892/061
Copyright: © 2019 NDJE NDJE MIREILLE, This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 15 November 2019 | Accepted: 16 December 2019 | Published: 17 December 2019
Keywords: family life experience; tramadol; abusive consumption; adolescents
There are increasing worries in many countries worldwide especially in Cameroon as concern the abusive consumption of tramadol and its addictive effects. Experiences within the family have a major influence on the wellbeing of its members, be it child, adolescent or adult. This is what spurred us to question other factors which have harmful effects on those abusing tramadol. This article aims to find how adolescents who have the necessary requirements for an adapted development seek satisfaction in abusive tramadol consumption. The objective was to understand the meaning adolescents who abusively consumes tramadol associate to their family life experiences and also bring out practical information on how adolescent’s emotional needs are met. We conducted a clinical study on three adolescents who abusively consume tramadol at the Psychiatric unit of Jamot Hospital Yaounde. Data was collected using semi- structured interview guide. Data collected was analyzed using thematic content and sequential analysis. The results were interpreted mainly based on the attachment theory which has shown that family life experiences are the association and negative interpretations of events experienced by these adolescents. These experiences have engendered a lacking state which the adolescents try to overcome by abusively consuming tramadol. Finding also indicated that family life experiences lead to the difficulties in managing negative counter-transference reactions which interferes with their ability to provide secured based. Perspectives for this research highlighted the lack of research exploring the rate of tramadol abusive consumption in the rural area and the end comparing their prevalence rates.
The prevalence of health risky behaviors associated with adolescent illicit drug use has attracted growing national and international attention. Unfortunately adolescents under rate the harmful effects of this unhealthy life styles (McMaster and keshav; 1994). These unpleasant activities by adolescents are wide spread in Cameroon and all over Africa; thus giving a lot of concern to the government and general public (Greene; 1980). According to NIDA (2003); adolescents today face many risks; including drug abuse; violence and HIV/AIDS which responding to these risks before they become a problem can be very difficult. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; 2017); indicate that some children as young as 12 or 13years are already involved in abusive drug use; that means some may begin even earlier. Early abused drugs are licit drugs such as Alcohol; Tobacco; Coffee; Inhalants. If drug abuse persist in to later adolescence; abusers typically become more involved with illegal or illicit drugs (cannabis; heroin; cocaine; crack cocaine; Indian hemp; amphetamine; marijuana; barbiturates and tramadol). which a majority of Cameroonian adolescents ignorantly depend on one form or the other for their daily activities. The magnitude of this problem in countries smuggling and growing tramadol in some Africa and west Asian countries is the evidence in the large quantities seized in North; West and Central Africa. In 2010; an increase of non medical use (abuse) of tramadol was reported in Gaza (UNODC; 2017). In 2013; the highest rate of tramadol abuse was found in adolescents; with 2.8% of all people aged from 12 to 25 taking it at some point for non-medical reasons. While huge attention has been paid to the opioid crisis in the US; where misuse of prescription drugs like fentanyl dominate figures release by UNODC; 2018 has revealed seizures in Africa for opioid now account for 87% of the global total. Unlike in the US; the seizing of opioids is concentrated in West; Central and North Africa; here the seizure largely consisted of tramadol; followed by codeine. The latest UN world drug report (UN; 2018); which noted that opioids were the most harmful global drug trend; accounting for 76% of deaths with drug-use disorders implicated. The report said that while fentanyl and its analogues remain a problem in North America; tramadol used to treat moderate and moderate-to- severe pain has become a growing concern in part of Africa and Asia. In Cameroon; 21% of the total Cameroonian population had tested hard drugs (illicit drugs); 10% of the population uses the drugs regularly and 60% are young people of ages 12 to 24year. The principal primary substances mostly used in Cameroon are cannabis with 58.54%; due to the fact that cannabis the oldest illicit drug well known is cultivated locally thus making it accessible. It is often associated with tobacco; tramadol with 44.62%; due to the fact that tramadol was a prescription only medicine use for medicinal therapy and its abusive consumption has just gain ground recently in our country and it is mostly noticed among adolescents in the school milieu; with commercial bike riders and drivers. Unlike cocaine with 12.10% consumption due to the fact that is inaccessible and much more expensive to afford. The other drug consumption constitutes traditional fortune with 7.59% consumption; solvent with 7.36% consumption and heroine with 5.70% consumption. As reported from “Comité National de Lutte Contre la Drogue (CNLD; 2018)” Cameroon’s Anti-drug National Committee. The CNLD also specified that more than 12000 young people in Cameroon of ages less than 15years are concern with the usage of psycho-active substances; narcotics and opioids such as alcohol; cocaine; heroin; amphetamines and psychotropic medicine; where school milieu; quarters; market; streets are used as their trafficking points. The Ministry of Public Health indicate that about 15000 young people between the ages of 13 to 15 have either come in contact with drug abuse or have abuse drug. Concerning the Yaounde adolescents; at the Jamot Hospital Yaounde (JHY); within the period of August 2018 to May 2019; of all the adolescents received at the psychiatric unit of JHY; 70% of them were involved in tramadol abuse. That is out of 100 patients received for psychoactive substance consumption 70% were those who abusively consume tramadol. Following the 2014 Boko Haram crisis in the Far North of Cameroon and the 2016 crises in the North West and South West Region of Cameroon; the government noticed an increase in risk taking behaviors; with a significant rise in cases of drug addiction (Cameroon Tribune; No. 28 of August 2018) .One of the drug commonly associated with this trend is Tramadol. According to WHO substance abuse also know as drug abuse is a pattern use of a drug in which the user consumes the drug in the amount or with the method which are harmful to themselves or others. Drug abuse may lead to organize crimes; poor health condition and disruption of normal academic program in adolescent; and according to Mental Health Specialists; a person who abused drugs have also been identified with drug dependence; addiction and suicide attempt as some of the major consequences. Abusive substance use is also characterized by compulsive drug craving seeking behavior even in the face of negative consequences. Despite consistent campaign against drugs and psychoactive substance abuse and the efforts put in place by Cameroon Government; Health & Education Ministers; Mental Health Services and NGO’s there are still increasingly high rates of tramadol prevalence and dependence; and some serious addictions. It is against this back drop that this article intends to understand the family life experience and abusive consumption of Tramadol by adolescents.
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