Climate variability, poverty and substance use disorders: Exploring maladaptive coping mechanisms in…

Cross-sectionalJournal of public health in Africa· 2026

Climate variability, poverty and substance use disorders: Exploring maladaptive coping mechanisms in climate-stressed communities of Northwest Nigeria.

Abdullahi Y Abdulwahab, Summayyah B Muhammad, Audu I Aveka … Bashir A Yakasai

Substance & AddictionCross-sectional

Poverty strongly associated with maladaptive coping among climate-stressed adults in Northwest Nigeria

Climate variability, poverty and substance use disorders: Exploring maladaptive coping mechanisms in climate-stressed communities of Northwest Nigeria.

Abdullahi Y Abdulwahab … Bashir A Yakasai

Journal of public health in Africa · 2026

Background

Northwest Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate variability and heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, which exacerbates existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the link among climate-induced stress, poverty, and mental health outcomes, particularly substance use as a maladaptive coping mechanism, in this region.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 20 000 adults aged ≥ 18 years from 40 randomly selected communities.

n = 3700

Results

poverty more than triples the odds of maladaptive coping

OR 4.85 (95% CI 4.48 to 5.25)

null 1

4.48

5.25

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

The prevalence of high-risk substance use (ASSIST ≥ 27) was 18.5% ( n = 3700).

Cannabis was the most commonly misused substance (12.4%, n = 2480), followed by prescription opioids (9.1%, n = 1820) and alcohol (7.8%, n = 1560).

High psychological distress (K10 ≥ 20) was identified in 45.2% ( n = 9040).

More results

Over 85% ( n = 17 000) were multidimensionally poor.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

This study reveals a concerning syndemic of climate-related stress, profound poverty, poor mental health, and substance use in Northwest Nigeria.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Associations suggest substance use may function as a maladaptive coping mechanism in the context of climate-induced economic hardship, though causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional design.

Climate variability, poverty and substance use disorders: Exploring maladaptive coping mechanisms in climate-stressed communities of Northwest Nigeria.

Climate variability, poverty and substance use disorders: Exploring maladaptive coping mechanisms in climate-stressed communities of Northwest Nigeria.

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