This study investigated the patterns, sources, and factors influencing the consumption of psychoactive substances among commercial motorcyclists in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, the study sampled 600 registered motorcyclists selected through a multistage sampling procedure across eight Local Government Areas in Ekiti State. Data were collected with a validated and reliable researcher-designed instrument, the Psychoactive Substances Questionnaire (PSQ), and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that Indian hemp/Marijuana (Igbo) was the most frequently consumed psychoactive substance, followed by alcohol, energy drinks, and cigarettes, while substances such as tramadol and Rohypnol were least consumed. Friends emerged as the major source of psychoactive substances, with drinking joints, hawkers, and okada parks serving as additional access points. Peer influence was identified as the strongest factor driving substance use, alongside motivations such as boosting energy, relaxation, and appetite enhancement. Other factors, including affordability, availability, and attempts to improve cycling performance, were less influential. The study concludes that psychoactive substance use among commercial motorcyclists is shaped more by social and functional motivations than by accessibility alone. It recommends targeted health education, strengthened peer-support interventions, regular health screenings, and stricter regulation of substance sales around motorcycle parks.
Keywords: commercial motorcyclists, psychoactive substances, sources of substances, substance use factors
