Factors influencing relapse among substance abuse patients attending neuropsychiatric hospital rumuigbo port harcourt, Nigeria

This study is a descriptive non-experimental survey, to determine factors influencing relapse among substance abuse patients attending Neuropsychiatric Hospital Rumuigbo Port Harcourt, Rivers state. It was guided by two specific objectives and one hypothesis. Taro Yamen’s technique was used to select a sample size of 52 respondents for the study. Data was collected using a self structured questionnaire and was subjected to analysis using both descriptive and inferential statistics and results presented in tables. Findings among others showed that factors influencing relapse include; influence from peer group against continuing with drugs after discharge from hospital, availability of the substance of abuse within the client’s neighborhood after discharge from hospital, inability to afford drug of treatment due to high cost, patients that have no close family member to observe and cater for them. Measures such as early and effective referral system, availability and affordability of drugs in the community mental health hospital, subsiding the cost of medication by government, educating patients’ family members on proper home management of patient’s condition, compliance, treatment and follow-up of the patients, are useful in preventing relapse. From the statistical calculation; calculated chi-square (X2) 18.83 is < the tabulated (X2) 21.03 at 0.05. Since the calculated X2(18.83) is less than the tabulated X2(21.03) the null hypothesis is accepted, hence, there is no significant relationship between the age and relapse among respondents. Recommendations based on the findings include, that health care workers especially nurses should provide information to and incorporate the patient’s family friends in the management of care as this will aid in home management of the patient’s condition thus preventing relapse.