Rje. Ndom et Ml. Adelekan, PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN ILORIN-UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA, East African medical journal, 73(8), 1996, pp. 541-547
The consistency of psychosocial correlates of alcohol, cigarettes and
cannabis use was evaluated among undergraduates of a Nigerian Universi
ty, The correlates were derived from repeat cross-sectional surveys co
nducted in 1988 and 1993, when 649 and 859 respondents respectively co
mpleted a standardised WHO substance-use questionnaire, Information pr
ovided on substance use patterns were correlated with socio-demographi
c variables, familial and best friend's usage, perceived availability
and perceived harmfulness, Consistency was found in the significant co
rrelations between the following: (i) lack of religiosity and the use
of the three substances; (ii) drinking and the presence of study diffi
culty, strained relationship with teachers and belonging to the Christ
ian religion; (iii) smoking and the male gender, and self-reported poo
r mental health; (iv) cannabis use and belonging to the older age grou
p; (v) respondents' use of the substances and use in the peer group, s
iblings, and parents in that order; (vi) perception of substance as ha
rmful and low use rates; (vii) perception of easy availability and hig
h use rates, Some correlates were inconsistent, while some new ones em
erged, The significance of the correlates in terms of packaging interv
ention programmes is discussed, against the background of the inherent
limitations of the study design.