Assessing Gender and Age-Varying Differences in Substance Use Disorders: Prevalence and Risk Factors Through Quantitative Analysis

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are a growing public health concern globally, with varying prevalence and risk profiles across gender and age groups. This study investigates gender and age-varying differences in the prevalence and risk factors of SUDs among individuals receiving treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. A cross-sectional quantitative analysis was conducted using secondary data involving adults aged 18-64 years. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, interaction effects, and Chi-square tests were used to evaluate substance-specific prevalence and assess associations with demographic and psychosocial risk factors. Prevalence rates revealed high usage of multiple substances among both genders. Notably, marijuana use was highest in the 55-64 years age group for both genders (Female: 1.00; Male: 0.00), while crack, crystal methamphetamine, and heroin showed elevated prevalence across age groups 18-44 (e.g., Male crack use at 35–44 = 1.00). Logistic regression indicated that stress or anxiety was a statistically significant protective factor for crystal meth use (p = 0.044; OR = 0.023), and gender (male) was significantly associated with crack use (p = 0.037; OR = 30.756). However, the majority of associations, including gender and age group interactions, were not statistically significant due to a small sample size. Chi-square tests confirmed that age significantly influenced marijuana use (p = 0.048), while gender had no significant effect on any substance. While patterns in substance use across age and gender are evident, most findings were statistically inconclusive. Larger, longitudinal studies are essential to validate these associations and inform targeted intervention strategies in Nigeria.