PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND CANNABIS USE - FINDINGS FROM A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

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.