What predicts cannabis use among Nigerian secondary school students?
Among 4,078 Nigerian secondary school students, having friends who use drugs, parental smoking, and low risk perception were the strongest predictors of cannabis and illicit drug use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a survey across all six Nigerian geopolitical zones, cannabis and illicit drug use among adolescents (mean age 14.7) was associated with older age, single-parent households, parental smoking, parental permissiveness to drink, having drug-using friends, low perceived risk of harm, and positive beliefs about drugs. Socioeconomic status predicted cannabis but not other drug use.
Key Numbers
4,078 students; mean age 14.7; 32 schools; 6 geopolitical zones; key predictors: friend drug use, parental smoking, low risk perception, positive drug beliefs.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 4,078 secondary school adolescents from 32 schools across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, using multilevel logistic regression models.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use among African youth is growing but understudied. This is one of the few large-scale studies providing nationally representative data on risk factors for adolescent cannabis use in Nigeria.
The Bigger Picture
The risk factors identified mirror those found in Western countries (peer influence, parental behavior, risk perception), suggesting universal prevention approaches may be adaptable across cultural contexts.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design; self-reported drug use in a context where it is illegal; school-based sample excludes out-of-school youth who may have higher use rates; specific substances within "illicit drugs" category not always distinguished.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would culturally tailored prevention programs addressing these specific risk factors reduce cannabis uptake in Nigerian schools?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Friend drug use, parental smoking, and low risk perception were top predictors
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large nationally representative sample with multilevel analysis, but cross-sectional and self-reported.
- Study Age:
- Published 2020.
- Original Title:
- Correlates of cannabis and other illicit drugs use among secondary school adolescents in Nigeria.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 206, 107457 (2020)
- Authors:
- Mehanović, Emina, Virk, Harsheth Kaur, Akanidomo, Ibanga, Pwajok, Juliet, Prichard, Glen, van der Kreeft, Peer, Vigna-Taglianti, Federica
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02720
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What most strongly predicted adolescent cannabis use in Nigeria?
Having friends who use marijuana or other drugs was one of the strongest predictors, along with parental smoking, low risk perception, and positive beliefs about drug use.
Are the risk factors different from Western countries?
The key risk factors (peer influence, parental modeling, risk perception) are similar to those found in Western studies, suggesting some universality in adolescent substance use predictors.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02720APA
Mehanović, Emina; Virk, Harsheth Kaur; Akanidomo, Ibanga; Pwajok, Juliet; Prichard, Glen; van der Kreeft, Peer; Vigna-Taglianti, Federica. (2020). Correlates of cannabis and other illicit drugs use among secondary school adolescents in Nigeria.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 206, 107457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.028
MLA
Mehanović, Emina, et al. "Correlates of cannabis and other illicit drugs use among secondary school adolescents in Nigeria.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.028
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Correlates of cannabis and other illicit drugs use among sec..." RTHC-02720. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mehanovic-2020-correlates-of-cannabis-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.