Ml. Adelekan et al., PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND CANNABIS USE - FINDINGS FROM A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY, Drug and alcohol dependence, 33(3), 1993, pp. 247-256
The possible correlates of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use were inve
stigated in a survey conducted among undergraduate students of the Uni
versity of Ilorin, Nigeria. Factors that emerged as common correlates
to the three substances investigated were peer influence, self-reporte
d poor mental health, religiousity, parental/guardian supervision, per
ceived availability and perceived harmfulness. In addition, drinking a
nd smoking were found to be commoner among the male sex and among resp
ondents who reported study difficulty. There was also a significant po
sitive relationship between cannabis use and a polygamous family backg
round and belonging to an older age group. Although the data used in t
he analysis is limited due to its cross-sectional nature, the observat
ions made are useful enough for the formulation of primary prevention
strategies. A further and more elaborate longitudinal study is, howeve
r, suggested.