PREDICTORS AND PATTERNS OF MARIJUANA USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

Ayeni Adebusola Raphael*, Ajibade B.L., Ayeni Bamidele A. and Abiodun O.O.

ABSTRACT

Utilization of illicit drugs in Nigeria have become a menace in our society which had equally aggravated the antisocial behaviours among the young and the old. This had tremendously increased the numbers of mentally ill individuals in the nation. Hence, this study employed cross-sectional survey of quantitative research design to explored predictors and patterns of marijuana use among adolescents in Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State. The objectives of the study are to: assess adolescents’ level of knowledge about marijuana; assess the pattern of marijuana use among adolescents; examine the effect of socioeconomic status of parents on the adolescents’ use of marijuana; Find out the influence of peer group on adolescents use of marijuana; determine the adolescents’ perception of marijuana as a drug of social influence. Multistage sampling technique were used to select 432 respondents from four district/areas of the local government. Self designed semi-structured questionnaire was used in data collection that spanned seven month, and data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that majority of the respondents were introduced to marijuana by friends. However, it was also revealed that most respondents disagreed that adolescents from rich parents smoke marijuana more than those from poor parents. In addition, majority of the respondents admitted that marijuana is used to withstand stressful situation and obtain relief from social pressure. It was also revealed that marijuana as a drug has some therapeutic benefits to the body. In conclusion, utilization of marijuana among adolescents has become rampant to the extent that respondents believed on the positive effects without considering the long term negative effects of marijuana use.

Keywords: Predictors, Pattern, Adolescent and Marijuana Use.