Tramadol misuse in the Niger Delta; A review of cases presenting within a year

Chikezie, Uzoechi Eze; Ebuenyi, Ikenna D.

doi:10.1080/14659891.2019.1604842

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Although in 2018 this margin decreased as law enforcement agencies reported the seizure of about 22 tons of tramadol in the country, the lower number of seizures reported in 2018 may be due to tramadol smugglers using more covert methods to avoid detection at borders. Moreover, scholars have maintained that in the last decade there has been an unprecedented surge in the use of tramadol for non-medical purposes when compared with the other opioid-based drugs in Nigeria (Adenugba and Okeshola, 2018; Adeyemo et al , 2022; Chikezie and Ebuenyi, 2019; Klein et al , 2018). This trend in Nigeria may be related to three main reasons: first, as observed by Klein et al (2018), tramadol is the only opioid that was not included in the international drug control schedules, thus making it the most available, accessible and affordable in this category.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It worked for my friend”: non-medical use of tramadol among manual labourers in Anambra state, Nigeria

Nwafor

Okoye

Nwankwo

et al. 2023

DHS

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Purpose This study aims to explore the dynamics involved in the non-medical use of tramadol among manual labourers in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Using the phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with forty (40) manual labourers (age: 19–36 years). These participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques from two cities in Anambra state, Nigeria, and the data was analysed with thematic analysis. Findings The results revealed that most of the participants were introduced to tramadol use by their friends. They used tramadol for pain relief, euphoric feeling, energy for work and sexual performance. Unfortunately, most of them may have gradually become dependent on this drug to function well in life without knowing the possible medical and psychological implications. Research limitations/implications The sample choice may limit the generalization of the findings; however, the study indicates a need to improve working condition, access to healthcare and awareness of the negative effects of non-medical use of tramadol. Originality/value Non-medical use of tramadol may have started as an attempt to help self in performing the daily routine. This action can jeopardize an individual’s mental health and, at the extreme state, hinder performance of daily routine. Friends and the quality of information they provide play a significant role in the onset of this action. The strong point is that many people who are involved in the non-medical use of tramadol are unaware of the possible risks. Improving working conditions and access to healthcare for chronic pain could help reduce these risks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It worked for my friend”: non-medical use of tramadol among manual labourers in Anambra state, Nigeria

Nwafor

Okoye

Nwankwo

et al. 2023

DHS

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“…Unlike conventional opioid-based analgesics, its mechanism of easing pain is somewhat different: it inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, thereby increasing their release . TR is an addictive drug that has become a menace in most countries including African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, etc, leading to a wide ban in African countries. , TR is regarded as relatively safe when used at the prescribed dosage. However, tramadol overdose or intoxication leads to high levels of tramadol in the blood and serious consequences such as cardiac complications and death. , In addition, TR is being implicated as an environmental risk, − especially in urban water pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 7 TR is an addictive drug that has become a menace in most countries including African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, etc, leading to a wide ban in African countries. 8 , 9 TR is regarded as relatively safe when used at the prescribed dosage. However, tramadol overdose or intoxication leads to high levels of tramadol in the blood and serious consequences such as cardiac complications and death.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Onion-like Carbons Provide a Favorable Electrocatalytic Platform for the Sensitive Detection of Tramadol Drug

et al. 2022

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This work reports the first study on the possible application of nanodiamond-derived onion-like carbons (OLCs), in comparison with conductive carbon black (CB), as an electrode platform for the electrocatalytic detection of tramadol (an important drug of abuse). The physicochemical properties of OLCs and CB were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The OLC exhibits, among others, higher surface area, more surface defects, and higher thermal stability than CB. From the electrochemical analysis (interrogated using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), it is shown that an OLC-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE-OLC) allows faster electron transport and electrocatalysis toward tramadol compared to a GCE-CB. To establish the underlying science behind the high performance of the OLC, theoretical calculations (density functional theory (DFT) simulations) were conducted. DFT predicts that OLC allows for weaker surface binding of tramadol (E ad = −26.656 eV) and faster kinetic energy (K.E. = −155.815 Ha) than CB (E ad = −40.174 eV and −305.322 Ha). The GCE-OLC shows a linear calibration curve for tramadol over the range of ∼55 to 392 μM, with high sensitivity (0.0315 μA/μM) and low limit of detection (LoD) and quantification (LoQ) (3.8 and 12.7 μM, respectively). The OLC-modified screen-printed electrode (SPE-OLC) was successfully applied for the sensitive detection of tramadol in real pharmaceutical formulations and human serum. The OLC-based electrochemical sensor promises to be useful for the sensitive and accurate detection of tramadol in clinics, quality control, and routine quantification of tramadol drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.

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“…Tramadol addiction and abuse is a very common phenomenon in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and other parts of the country (Ibrahim et al, 2017;Chikezie and Ebuenyi, 2019). Tramadol rapidity to pain relief is now heavily patronized outside medical prescription and is now classified as a criminal ecstasy in Nigeria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic and Acute Effect of Tramadol Intoxication on Some Immunological Parameters

Zebedee¹,

Jeremiah²,

Nyebuchi³

et al. 2021

American Journal of Immunology

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Tramadol intoxication is rapidly on the increase in Nigeria with unestablished short-term and long-term effects. The study was aimed at elucidating the dose-dependent effect of acute or chronic tramadol intoxication on some immunological parameters using male rats (Rattus norvegicus). A total of fifty adult rats were used for the study as indicated by Mead's Resource Equation. The study consisted of acute and chronic categories of fifty adult rats randomly pair-divided into groups of six rats each. The acute phase consisted of a control group of 6 rats administered with normal saline solution and a treatment group of 6 rats administered with lethal dose of tramadol. The chronic phase comprised of control group of 6 rats and 3 tramadol-dependent groups of 6 rats each administered orally with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of tramadol for a period of 90 days respectively. Student t-test, one-way Anova and Pearson correlations were the statistical tools used for the data analysis employing JMP statistical discovery™ software version 14.1. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for immunological examination using World Health Organization (WHO) approved methods. The study revealed that concentrations IgG, IgM and CD4 were significantly elevated (p>0.05) in the acute treatment group compared with the controls. However, the chronic phase of the study showed a progressive significant increase (p>0.05) in CD4 count. Conclusively, the study has demonstrated that tramadol intoxication has the preponderances of altering the immune apparatuses of the body.

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Tramadol misuse in the Niger Delta; A review of cases presenting within a year

Cited by 24 publications

References 10 publications

“It worked for my friend”: non-medical use of tramadol among manual labourers in Anambra state, Nigeria

“It worked for my friend”: non-medical use of tramadol among manual labourers in Anambra state, Nigeria

Onion-like Carbons Provide a Favorable Electrocatalytic Platform for the Sensitive Detection of Tramadol Drug

Chronic and Acute Effect of Tramadol Intoxication on Some Immunological Parameters

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