TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlates of cannabis and other illicit drugs use among secondary school adolescents in Nigeria
AU - Mehanović, Emina
AU - Virk, Harsheth Kaur
AU - Akanidomo, Ibanga
AU - Pwajok, Juliet
AU - Prichard, Glen
AU - van der Kreeft, Peer
AU - Vigna-Taglianti, Federica
AU - Alesina, Marta
AU - Cuomo, Gian Luca
AU - Damjanović, Ljiljana
AU - Di Marco, Valeria
AU - Donati, Laura
AU - Vadrucci, Serena
AU - Kaur Virk, Harsheth
AU - Ogbonna, Ann
AU - Madu, Rhoda
AU - Elisha, Francis
AU - Owotumi, Ruth
AU - Ojunugba, Peter
AU - Hussaini, Alhaji Baba
AU - Ngwoke, Stella Ngozi
AU - Kamai, Paul
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Background: The burden of cannabis and other illicit drug use among youth represent a serious public health problem. The aim of the present study is to explore factors associated with cannabis and other illicit drug use among Nigerian secondary school adolescents of the six geopolitical zones of the country. Methods: A total sample of 4078 secondary school adolescents of 32 schools from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria participated in a cross-sectional survey in December 2015-January 2016. The association of sociodemographic characteristics, parental smoking, parental permissiveness to drink, friends' marijuana or other drugs use, risk perceptions and beliefs with the risk of lifetime cannabis and other illicit drugs use was examined through multilevel logistic regression models. Results: The mean age of the students involved in the study was 14.7 years. Older age, living in one-parent or family structures different from both parents household, parental smoking, parental permissiveness to drink alcohol, friends’ use of marijuana or other drugs, low risk perception of harmful effects, and positive beliefs on marijuana or drugs use were associated with the risk of cannabis and illicit drugs use. The indicator of socioeconomic status was associated to the risk of using cannabis, but not to the risk of using illicit drugs. Conclusions: The present study highlights some correlates that influence the uptake of cannabis and drugs among Nigerian adolescents. Preventive programs addressing these factors could help to reduce the burden of the problem. Specific attention should be given to interventions to contrast the incorrect beliefs and perceptions.
AB - Background: The burden of cannabis and other illicit drug use among youth represent a serious public health problem. The aim of the present study is to explore factors associated with cannabis and other illicit drug use among Nigerian secondary school adolescents of the six geopolitical zones of the country. Methods: A total sample of 4078 secondary school adolescents of 32 schools from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria participated in a cross-sectional survey in December 2015-January 2016. The association of sociodemographic characteristics, parental smoking, parental permissiveness to drink, friends' marijuana or other drugs use, risk perceptions and beliefs with the risk of lifetime cannabis and other illicit drugs use was examined through multilevel logistic regression models. Results: The mean age of the students involved in the study was 14.7 years. Older age, living in one-parent or family structures different from both parents household, parental smoking, parental permissiveness to drink alcohol, friends’ use of marijuana or other drugs, low risk perception of harmful effects, and positive beliefs on marijuana or drugs use were associated with the risk of cannabis and illicit drugs use. The indicator of socioeconomic status was associated to the risk of using cannabis, but not to the risk of using illicit drugs. Conclusions: The present study highlights some correlates that influence the uptake of cannabis and drugs among Nigerian adolescents. Preventive programs addressing these factors could help to reduce the burden of the problem. Specific attention should be given to interventions to contrast the incorrect beliefs and perceptions.
KW - Beliefs
KW - Cannabis
KW - Drugs
KW - Nigeria
KW - Risk perceptions
KW - Secondary school adolescents
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.028
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.028
M3 - Article
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 206
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
M1 - 107457
ER -
