| Summary: | Aims: This study aimed to provide community-level perspectives on substance use, related health and social harms and utilization of treatment for substance use disorders in Nigeria. Methods: The study is based on descriptive-qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 2,787 key informants (e.g. police officers, health workers) from the 36 states of Nigeria. Results: The findings highlight social, economic, legal, academic, occupational and health problems linked to drug consumption. Drug-related problems extended beyond individuals who consume drugs to impact close relations and local communities. Government-funded facilities (e.g. general hospitals, specialist psychiatric facilities) were thought to be more available, accessible and acceptable to people seeking treatment for substance use disorders than other types of facilities (e.g. faith-based facilities, NGO treatment centers). The provision and uptake of services in these facilities are constrained by financial cost and inadequate specialist services for drug use owing to shortage of skilled professionals. Conclusion: There exist a need to improve access to substance use disorder treatment through development of skilled manpower, expansion of health service coverage and strengthening of community-based services. Further, prioritizing healthcare services and combating stigma against people who use drugs could contribute to uptake of services.
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