RESUMO
We report on the psychosocial and substance use profiles of the 55 "Area Boys and Girls" (ABG) admitted to a Rehabilitation Camp in Lagos between March and May 1993 under the main auspices of the People's Bank of Nigeria. The majority were males (73%); young adults (mean age/SD: 30.6/6.3); unemployed (73%); not married (80%); of low educational standing (87%) and from low socio-economic background (over 70%). Almost all were current users of heroin (89%) and cocaine (87%), procured with a substantial amount of money and administered mainly through smoking and "chasing the dragon". None of the clients reported injecting the drug. These findings have highlighted the intricate nature of the problems of ABG and the need for a comprehensive rehabilitation package encompassing general medical, psychological and psychiatric care. Such programmes, ideally free, should be a joint venture between the government, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and the community as a whole. The key emphasis should be on equipping the clients with occupational skills for life-long economic sustenance. To curtail the growing numbers of displaced young people in the country, the government should give due attention to the root causes of the multiple social ills in the society.
