Substance Misuse, Firearm Violence Act and Public Policy in Nigeria

Substance misuse and firearm violence is becoming a significant public health concern in Nigeria. This article reviews the trend of substance (drugs and alcohol) misuse in relation to firearm violence perpetration, and the policy implications associated with these findings. Publicly available data are essentially used for the narration and results from the study reveal that substance misuse are important correlates of firearm violence and various homicidal and suicide acts in Nigeria. Furthermore, the paper show that enforceable policies restricting access to firearms by persons who are intoxicated or have a history of alcohol misuse including prior convictions for alcohol-related offenses are not stipulated in the law. However, applicants with addiction history may be denied firearm access. Facts from this study suggest that restricting access to firearms for persons with a familiar record of substance misuse would be an effective consideration for violence prevention. Unambiguous definitions of substance misuse, promotion of aversion therapy or increased sensitization that will assist in behavioral modification should be encouraged.