ArticleSubstance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2020
"With tramadol, I ride like a Jaguar": a qualitative study of motivations for non-medical purpose tramadol use among commercial vehicle operators in Kumasi, Ghana.
Article in Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 44 citations in OpenAlex.
- Beyond the Law: A Qualitative Socio-Ecological Study of Substance Use Treatment Barriers and Adaptations in Ghana.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing · 2026Article
- Road safety threats and occupational health risk associated with psychoactive substance use and dependence risk among commercial drivers: WHO ASSIST evidence from Ghana.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Tramadol use among young commercial drivers in Tamale Metropolis: a concurrent triangulation mixed-methods study.Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy · 2025Article
- The severity of Tramadol misuse among youth in urban informal settlements in Ghana: patterns, co-use, and sociodemographic factors.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- Large-Scale Analysis of Online Questions Related to Opioid Use Disorder on Reddit.Proceedings of the ... International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media. International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media · 2025Article
- Single-Entry Selective Trunk Block (S-SeTB): An Innovative Approach to Complete Upper Extremity Anesthesia in Weapon-Wounded Patients in Low-Resource Settings.Local and regional anesthesia · 2025Article
- Prevalence and factors associated with tramadol use among university students in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Patterns and social factors associated with non-prescription use of Tramadol: a cross-sectional study among youth in urban informal settlements in Ghana.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Article
- A consideration of CYP2D6 genetic variations in the Ghanaian population as a potential 'culprit' for the tramadol 'abuse crisis'.BMC medical genomics · 2024Article
- Prevalence and health consequences of nonmedical use of tramadol in Africa: A systematic scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Review
- Onion-like Carbons Provide a Favorable Electrocatalytic Platform for the Sensitive Detection of Tramadol Drug.ACS omega · 2022Article
- Increase of high-risk tramadol use and harmful consequences in France from 2013 to 2018: Evidence from the triangulation of addictovigilance data.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2022Article
- Where is the pain? A qualitative analysis of Ghana's opioid (tramadol) 'crisis' and youth perspectives.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- EEG and Sleep Effects of Tramadol Suggest Potential Antidepressant Effects with Different Mechanisms of Action.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe misuse of tramadol has become a major aspect of the wider substance use challenge in recent years and is evolving into a health crisis at an alarming rate. However, literature on motivations for non-medical purpose tramadol use among commercial vehicle operators remains inadequate. The aim of this study was to document the motivations for non-medical purposes tramadol use in Kumasi. Such an understanding could inform policy direction to regulate non-medical purposes tramadol use in Ghana.
methodsWe conducted this exploratory qualitative study with 23 purposively selected commercial vehicle drivers (15) and assistants (8) in Kumasi, Ghana. Data for the study were collected through in-depth face-to-face interviews between June 2018 and March 2019. Using a thematic analytical approach, the interviews were coded and analysed.
resultsMultiple motivations for non-medical purposes tramadol use were found including those related to: (1) sexual; (2) psychological; (3) physical; and (4) economic factors. Participants also reported three main inter-linking categories of perceived tramadol adverse effects: (1) physical; (2) psychological; and (3) social effects. Although participants indicated no plans for stopping their non-medical use of tramadol any time soon, strong willingness was voiced for supporting officials in finding and dealing with non-medical purpose tramadol sellers.
conclusionNon-medical purposes tramadol use was associated with a confluence of factors, ranging from enhanced sexual performance to economic reasons. Based on the findings of the study and the dependence and addictive potentials of tramadol, there is the need for psychoeducational programmes for persons who misuse tramadol and enhancement of operational capacities of regulatory agencies.
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