Abstract

Background: Automobile drivers are vulnerable to psychoactive substance use often to their detriment in terms of
the health hazards of these substances and also to the detriment of commuters in terms of their safety. The objectives of the study were to identify pattern of psychoactive substance use among long distance commercial drivers in general and also with respect to their status (hired or owner) and also to identify the profile of health and social problems associated with substance use disorders among them.
Method: Four hundred and twenty two commercial drivers selected through a multi stage stratified sampling
technique from four motor parks in Ibadan were interviewed using the alcohol and drug section of the CIDI.
The CIDI auto program was used to generate psychiatric diagnosis. The CIDI auto is a computer program which
could concurrently generate both ICD 10 and DSM IIIR diagnoses using various indices which include physical and social health problems. Focus
group discussion and direct observation were also conducted in each of the study parks.

Key words: Key Words: Psychoactive Substances, Automobile Driving, ICD 10/DSM IIIR