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Background The publication of the World Health Report of 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO) raised awareness of mental health worldwide. It reported a higher burden of mental illnesses in developing countries, with fewer resources to address the conditions. Since then, many initiatives have been taken in Cameroon to improve the mental health of the population, but these efforts lack local scientific evidence to support them. This study aims to describe the mental health services available in the West Region of Cameroon and to provide evidence-based support to this process. Method We used the World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health systems (WHO-AIMS) version 2.2 to collect, analyze, and report the data on mental health services offered in 2020 in the West Region of Cameroon. We extracted our data from the registers of 10 mental health facilities of the region, and we interviewed the staff in these facilities and at the Ministry of Public Health. Results The region is divided into 20 health districts, of which six offered mental health services. As a whole, Cameroon had a mental health policy, mental health plan, but no mental health legislation or emergency plan. There was no specific budget for mental health in the country. In the West Region there were not any psychiatrists. Mental health services were provided by nurses, psychologists, general practitioners, and neurologists. There were 1.87 human resources in mental health facilities per 100,000 population, of which 1.4 were nurses. 1 in 1.4 of these nurses worked in the main city. There was no formal link of mental health services with other sectors and no publication in the previous five years about mental health in the region referenced on PubMed. Conclusion In 2020, the access to mental health services in the West Region of Cameroon was inequitable. The approach to mental health system development was not inclusive and not supported by enough scientific evidence.

Background Cannabis use during methadone treatment may negatively impact treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods This was a retrospective study of 874 patients on methadone therapy at a methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya from December 2014 to November 2018. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and drug use patterns based on urine drug screens was collected from patient files. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 23.0. Results Point prevalence of cannabis use was 85.8% (95% CI, 83.3 – 88.0) at baseline and 62.7% (95% CI, 59.5 – 65.8) during follow-up. A pattern of polysubstance use was observed where opioids, cannabis and benzodiazepines were the most commonly used drugs. The mean age of the patients was 35.3 (SD 9.0) years with the majority being male, unemployed (76%), (51.4%) had reached primary level of education, and (48.5%) were divorced or separated. University education was associated with reduced risk for cannabis use OR = 0.1 (95% CI, 0.02-0.8, p = 0.031). Conclusion Cannabis use is prevalent among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Kenya, suggesting need for targeted interventions to address the problem of cannabis use during methadone treatment.

Background: Cannabis use during methadone treatment may negatively impact treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of cannabis use among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 874 patients on methadone therapy at a methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Nairobi, Kenya from December 2014 to November 2018. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and drug use patterns based on urine drug screens was collected from patient files. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 23.0. Results: Prevalence of cannabis use was 85.8% (95% CI, 83.3 – 88.0) at baseline and 62.7% (95% CI, 59.5 – 65.8) during follow up. A pattern of polysubstance use was observed where opioids, cannabis and benzodiazepines were the most commonly used drugs. The mean age of the patients was 35.3 (SD 9.0) years with majority being male, unemployed (76%), had primary level of education (51.4%) and divorced or separated (48.5%). Cannabis use was associated with dropping out of treatment (p=0.001) and university education was associated with reduced risk for cannabis use OR=0.1 (95% CI, 0.02-0.8, p=0.031). Conclusion: Cannabis use is prevalent among patients attending a methadone treatment clinic in Kenya and is associated with dropping out of treatment. There is a need for targeted interventions to address the problem of cannabis use during methadone maintenance treatment in Nairobi, Kenya.