Cannabis and tobacco use among undergraduate students of a private university in Edo State, Nigeria

IntroductionSubstance abuse is a growing public health challenge in developing Countries with significant socio-economic implications to National development (United Nations Office on Drugs and crime, UNODC, 2008; National Institute of Drug Abuse, NIDA, 2016). The abuse of psychoactive substances is common in Nigeria (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, 2008; UNODC, 2007) and cannabis is the most prevalent illicit substance of abuse (UNODC, 2007). Cannabis use has been associated and implicated in delusions, hallucinations and memory loss, in addition, to social problems such as deviancy, family discord, adverse academic performance etc. (Wu & Tashkin, 1988; Affinnih, 1999). Furthermore, cannabis use has been found to be associated with high rates of unemployment/under employment and school drop-out especially among students (Fergusson & Boden, 2008). Cannabis and other substance of abuse can alter the normal biological and psychological functioning of the body, especially the central nervous system (Melis, Spigga & Marco, 2005).Apart from the psychosocial manifestations, cannabis use manifest with negative physical effects on the body such as increased heart rate, decrease blood pressure, acute on chronic respiratory tract infections and cancers especially with concurrent tobacco exposure and use (NIDA, 2016; CDC, 2016).Undergraduate populations are a vulnerable group to substance use particularly in developing countries where constellation of factors may favour their use (Tarig O et al. 2016). Drug abuse may lead to increased rate of organized crimes and disruption of normal academic programmes. It has also been implicated in increased secret cult activities in secondary schools and most Nigerian universities, which has been a source of threat to lives and properties (Aluede, 2000). The impact of drug abuse among Nigerian youths has also been associated with the loss of our societal norms, values and ideals (Aluede, 2000). Although several studies have shown that the abuse of substances by undergraduate students is not uncommon (Ihezue, 1988; Adelekan, Abiodun, Obayan et al.., 1992; Essien, 2010; Yusuf, 2010; Uchendu & Ukonu, 2016), there is relative paucity of data on substance abuse by students of private Universities in Nigeria. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess cannabis and tobacco use among undergraduate students in a private University in Edo State and to help identify associated factors fuelling the usage.MethodThe study was carried out at Igbinedion University, Okada in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo state. Okada is the administrative headquarter of Ovia North East LGA in Edo State. The University is Nigeria's first private university, established on 10th May, 1999. The University has seven colleges; Law, Medicine, Natural and Applied Sciences, Business and Management Studies, Pharmacy, Engineering and Arts and Social Sciences. A descriptive cross sectional study design was conducted between December 2014 and February, 2015. The respondents were recruited from the seven colleges using multistage sampling technique. The minimum sample size of 88 was calculated using Cochran Formula for simple proportion (Cochran, 1977) using the prevalence of 5.6% for tobacco use from a previous study (National Bureau of Statistics, 2012).Ethical clearance was obtained prior to commencement of study from the Department of Community Medicine and the Igbinedion University Authority while written individual informed consent was obtained from each respondent.Pretested modified semi-structured questionnaire (Smart, Anumonye, Navaratnam et al.., 1980) was used to gather data. Data collected were sorted for completeness and analysed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 statistical software. Results were presented in pros, tables and charts, with statistical significance set at pResultThe socio-demographic characteristics of respondents studied (See Table 1 below);Eighty five point six per cent of respondents studied were in the age group 17-21 years, in term of religion 60(68. …