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American Journal of  
Life Science and Innovation (AJLSI)

Spectrum of  Adolescent Marijuana Use in Secondary Schools at Sagamu, South-West 
Nigeria: Factors, Determinants and Scope

Ejiroghene Oluwafunke Okorosobo1, Ademola Mufutau Amosu1, Aloysius Obinna Ikwuka2*, Francis Chigozie Udeh2

Volume 3 Issue 2, Year 2024
ISSN: 2833-1397 (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajlsi.v3i2.2993
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajlsi

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: May 22, 2024

Accepted: June 25, 2024

Published: June 28, 2024

Adolescents’ use of  marijuana is a challenge of  public health concern, and this also relates 
to several communities in Nigeria. The use of  marijuana and other substances has been 
reported among the youths. However, the contributing factors to its consumption among 
these consumers are yet to be fully documented in some Nigerian states. This research 
aimed to investigate the spectrum of  marijuana use among adolescents in secondary 
schools at Sagamu. The study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design. A multi-stage 
sampling technique was used to select 388 respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire 
with Cronbach’s alpha of  0.72 was employed. The predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling 
factors were measured on an 18-point rating scale. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression 
analysis were conducted to give statistical responses to the research hypotheses using SPSS 
version 23. The response rate in this research was 98%. The mean age of  the respondents 
was 15.46±1.37years. 56.2% were females, 74.5% were Christians, and 84% were Yoruba. 
4.6% of  the respondents have an uneducated dad, 3.9% have an uneducated mum, 70.6% 
have a self-employed dad, and 78.1% have a self-employed mum. 92.5% of  the respondents 
have a good knowledge of  marijuana use. 77.6% have a positive attitude towards marijuana 
use. 48.7% of  the respondents could be influenced by the reinforcing and enabling factors, 
and there was a 7.2% prevalence rate of  marijuana use. There was a significant association 
between peer influence and marijuana use (R=0.105; R2=0.11; p=0.39), but none between 
respondents’ predisposing factors and marijuana use (p>0.05). Peer influence was the only 
significant determinant of  marijuana use among the respondents. Peer education from 
homes, schools, and governments is therefore recommended to promote the non-use of  
marijuana and other substances among adolescents.

Keywords

Spectrum, Adolescent, 
Marijuana Use, Secondary 
Schools, Sagamu, South-West 
Nigeria, Factors, Determinants, 
Scope

INTRODUCTION
Adolescent substance use involves the use of  illegal 
drugs, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and 
misuse of  prescription drugs among adolescents, whom 
theWorld Health Organization (WHO) described as 
people aged between 10 to 19 years and make up 20% 
of  the global population (United Nations Children’s 
Emergency Fund (UNICEF, 2022). Substance use burden 
increases among adolescents and young adults, with an 
unequal distribution across age groups, countries, and 
epidemiological parameters (Global Burden of  Disease 
Collaborative Network, 2015). 
The use of  marijuana poses a danger to adolescents, 
which ripple with long-term consequences for the general 
population. The age of  initiation is the mid-teens in many 
developed countries (United Nations Office of  Drugs 
and Crime [UNODC], 2021; WHO, 2016). In the United 
States of  America, 75.6% of  high school students were 
reported to have used addictive substances, including 
marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol, or cocaine. In addition, 
90% of  the US population is initiated into substance 
use before the age of  eighteen, of  which 25% become 
addicted (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 
[CASA], 2011). 
Apart from marijuana, other substances such as alcohol, 
tobacco, illicit drugs, e.g., cocaine, heroin, and opiates 

which are commonly abused, have harmful effects on 
the brain and other vital organs, e.g., lungs (Baysah, 2023; 
Udeh, 2023a; Udeh, 2023b). Cystic fibrosis is a genetic 
disease affecting mainly the lungs (Ikwuka, 2023a). Other 
affected organs include the pancreas, liver, kidneys, 
and intestine. Clinical features of  cystic fibrosis include 
dyspnea, cough with sputum, sinusitis, poor growth, 
fatty stool, finger and toe clubbing, etc (Ikwuka, 2023a). 
Cough with sputum can be complicated by blood in the 
sputum (hemoptysis), which can lead to anemia (Ikwuka, 
2023e; Musa, 2023).
Marijuana use has been linked to mental health disorders. 
Different researchers are still investigating the links 
between marijuana use and metabolic disorders, although 
some studies have reported no significant association 
between marijuana use and metabolic disorders. Among 
emerging adults, current marijuana users were 54% less 
likely than never to present with metabolic syndrome. 
Current (AOR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25-0.97) and past (AOR 
0.61; 95% CI, 0.40-0.91) middle-aged adult marijuana 
users were less likely to have metabolic syndrome 
than never users (Vidot, 2016). Metabolic disorders, 
e.g. Hypertension, Adiposity, Diabetes mellitus and 
Dyslipidemia, collectively known as Metabolic Syndrome 
Diseases (MSDs) are diseases related to one another 
(Ikwuka, 2015; Ikwuka, 2017a; Ikwuka, 2017c; Ikwuka, 

1 School of  Public and Allied Health, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria
2 College of  Medicine and Health Sciences, American International University West Africa, Banjul, The Gambia
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: aloysiussweet@yahoo.com



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Am. J. Life Sci. Innov. 3(2) 1-12, 2024

2023c; Ikwuka, 2023f; Ikwuka, 2024; Virstyuk, 2016). 
Different studies have shown that MSDs are associated 
with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, systemic immune 
inflammatory processes, and fibrogenesis all of  which 
can lead to nephropathy (Ikwuka, 2017d; Ikwuka, 
2017e; Ikwuka, 2018c; Ikwuka, 2018d; Ikwuka, 2019a; 
Ikwuka, 2019c; Ikwuka, 2022; Ikwuka, 2023d; Virstyuk, 
2017a; Virstyuk, 2018a; Virstyuk, 2019; Virstyuk, 2021a; 
Virstyuk, 2021b).
Substance use disorder is an expensive and preventable 
public health problem. The assessment of  the annual 
cost of  substance use disorder in United States hospitals 
showed that a total of  13.2 billion dollars was the annual 
estimated attributable medical cost for substance use 
disorders (Peterson, 2021). A single cause (determinant) 
cannot initiate the use of  marijuana among adolescents, 
rather it is a complex of  predisposing, reinforcing, and 
enabling factors. There is a multilevel complexity as these 
factors are further composed of  individual determinants 
as described and used in constructing the research 
instrument for this study. 
The predisposing factors include age, gender, ethnicity, 
parents’ socio-economic status, knowledge, and attitude. 
Reinforcing factors include family and/or siblings’ use of  
marijuana; and peer influence. The enabling factors include 
easy access, availability, cost of  marijuana, and the school 
environment. Physiological, genetic, and psychological 
determinants are also associated with substance use. 
These determinants are strongly influenced and the key 
influencers include family, social networks, and peer 
pressure, with best friend use reported to influence the 
most (English, 2023).
Certain substances used and abused are derived from 
agricultural products e.g. beer from wheat and barley, 
hallucinogens from certain plants, tobacco from dried 
tobacco leaves, and marijuana from varieties of  cannabis 
plants such as the Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and 
Cannabis indica (Gloss, 2015). The agricultural source 
of  marijuana therefore makes it easy to procure for 
recreational use. Marijuana plant contains numerous 
cannabinoids including Δ−9-tetrahydrocannabinol 
(the principal cannabinoid) and cannabidiol (World 
Health Organization [WHO], 2024; National Center for 
Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018). Cannabis 
usage is associated with oxidative stress. Linked to the 
induction of  oxidative stress are major free radicals. 
Among these major free radicals, superoxide anions, 
hydroxyl radicals, and hydroperoxyl radicals are of  
physiological significance. A non-radical of  physiological 
significance is hydrogen peroxide (Ama, 2023; Ekechi, 
2023a; Ikwuka, 2023b; Uche, 2023).
Marijuana use has been reported to lead to addiction, 
poor concentration, poor academic performance, thefts, 
organized crime, violence, mental illnesses, injuries, 
infections, and behavioral disorders in the involved 
individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
[CDC], 2023; National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics 
[NCDAS], 2024). Other substances including tobacco, 

alcohol, and illicit drugs like opiates, heroin, and cocaine 
are also popular and toxic (Baysah, 2023; Udeh, 2023a; 
Udeh, 2023b).  Interestingly, marijuana and individual 
cannabinoids have been reported to help manage the side 
effects of  cancer and cancer therapies, but no research 
has shown that they can cure cancer (National Academies 
of  Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017).
Substance use burden increases in adolescence and young 
adulthood (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 
2011). Globally, an estimated 181.8 million individuals 
who were between 15 and 64 years old used non-medical 
marijuana in 2013. Marijuana was the most commonly 
used hard drug among youths in 2019, and in 2021 it 
became the most cultivated and trafficked drug worldwide 
(United Nations Office of  Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 
2021). In 2023, among teenagers in the United States of  
America (USA), marijuana was the second most abused 
substance after alcohol (National Center for Drug Abuse 
Statistics, 2024). 
There were 70.46 million users in the USA, 61.99 
million users in Asia, 53.6 million users in Africa, 29.47 
million users in Europe, and 3.4 million users in Oceania 
(Statista, 2023). Irrespective of  age, 37.7% of  women 
in developed countries/regions like the USA, West and 
Central Europe (European Monitoring Center for Drugs 
and Drug Addiction [EMCDDA], 2023), Australia, and 
New Zealand consume marijuana, while only 10.5% 
of  women in Africa and Asia use it (Statista, 2023). In 
a national survey in Nigeria, the Northwest region has 
the highest number of  marijuana users (Akannam, 2008). 
It is also published from a high school students survey 
that 65% of  the students used drugs to be happy with 
their friends (Abudu, 2008). In Sagamu, the people 
call marijuana other names like hemp, “ganja”, “igbó”, 
“pot”, “káyá”, “wee-wee”, “ojà”, gbáná and abana. It was 
also reported that 76% of  secondary school students 
in Sagamu used illicit drugs, and 49.3% used them for 
calmness and sleep (Ojieabu, 2017), in the form of  self-
medication (Oriavwote, 2022).
Metabolic syndrome diseases (MSDs) are interrelated 
diseases with very high economic costs, morbidity, and 
mortality rates, thus requiring the search for new and 
effective treatment options (Ikwuka, 2024). Treatment 
optimization in MSD patients using a combination of  
HMG-CoA and SGLT-2 inhibitors, and A2RB (AT1) 
has resultant clinical effectiveness as indicated by marked 
improvements in metabolic functions of  the heart, 
liver, pancreas, and kidney (Ikwuka, 2017b; Ikwuka, 
2018a; Ikwuka, 2018b; Ikwuka, 2021; Virstyuk, 2017b; 
Virstyuk, 2018b; Virstyuk, 2018c; Ikwuka, 2024). In 
addition, Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists 
(GLP-1 RAs) e.g. Liraglutide have been found to improve 
the efficacy of  treatment and clinical course of  type 2 
diabetes mellitus and hypertension in patients with such 
comorbidities (Ikwuka, 2019b). It has also been reported 
that coconut water has hepatorenal protective functions 
against alloxan-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (Ekechi, 
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With the increased prevalence of  marijuana use among 
adolescents and the high incidence of  implications 
on health and the economy, evaluating the spectrum 
of  marijuana use among adolescents would be very 
important. It will also be important to analyze the 
association between predisposing factors, reinforcing 
factors, enabling factors, and marijuana use. An efficient 
approach to prevent adolescent marijuana use would be 
very beneficial to both public health and the economy. 
Therefore, as part of  the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDG), this study would give clearer insights into 
the determinants and scope of  marijuana use among 
adolescents and provide answers to strengthen the 
prevention of  its use among adolescents especially those 
in secondary schools. In addition, this study will expose 
where further research can be done, and suggest areas 
where laws, policies, and interventions can be developed 
and implemented.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area
The study was conducted at Sagamu, the headquarters of  
Sagamu Local Government Area (LGA) in Ogun State, 
South-West Nigeria. With a land area of  68.03 km2, it is 
surrounded by Odogbolu LGA in the east, Lagos State in 
the south, Ikenne LGA in the north, and Obafemi Owode 
LGA in the west. The major economic engagement of  
the locals is kolanut farming.

Study Population 
The study population comprised adolescents between 
the ages of  11 and 19 who attended secondary schools 
located within the study area.

Sample Size 
The Cochran formula for descriptive, cross-sectional, 
qualitative study was used:
Sample size for large population >10,000 = n = (Z2 PQ)/d2 
Z = standard normal deviate (at 5% type 1 error) = 1.96 
P = prevalence of  drug use in Nigeria = 65% (Abudu, 2008)
Q = complementary proportion equivalent to = 1-P = 
1-0.65 = 0.35
d = degree of  accuracy desired (absolute precision) = 5% 
= 0.05
n = (1.962×0.65×0.35)/0.052  = 359.57 ~ 360
With the inclusion of  a 10% non-response rate, 396 
students were later expected to be recruited for the study.

Sample Size Justification
The Cochran formula was appropriate for this descriptive, 
cross-sectional, qualitative study. A cross-sectional study 
could be qualitative or quantitative, with specific formulas 

for each, and in situations where the study population is 
less or greater than 10,000 (Udeh, 2023c). The appropriate 
formula was used with a study population above 10,000, 
thereby justifying the sample size.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Respondents included students between the ages of  11 
and 19 who consented to participate voluntarily. Students 
outside the age range who did not consent to participate 
voluntarily were excluded.

Study Design 
All the secondary schools in Sagamu were listed. The 
engaged secondary schools were selected using simple 
random sampling by balloting. A proportionate sampling 
technique was used to derive the number of  participants 
per school, and a systematic sampling technique was 
used to get the number of  students needed from each 
school. Structured, self-administered questionnaires were 
presented to the respondents and the sections included 
the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of  
marijuana use, attitude towards marijuana use, and 
associated factors (reinforcing and enabling) for marijuana 
use. The questionnaire was validated by face validity, item 
validity, and construct validity. The questionnaire was 
confirmed reliable after a pilot study was conducted with 
10% of  the sample size among students outside the study 
area. Also, the Cronbach alpha analysis was 0.72.

Data Analysis
Participants responded to the questions on knowledge 
with a “Yes” or “No”. The attitude, reinforcing, and 
enabling factors were responded to, using a four-point 
Likert scale. The Likert scale rating was calculated by 
multiplying the highest point by the number of  variables. 
The hypotheses were tested with Pearson correlation 
and linear regression analysis at p-value<0.05. Data was 
analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 
(SPSS) version 23.

Ethical Considerations
The Babcock University Health Research Ethical 
Committee (BUHREC) granted permission to conduct 
this study. The Ministry of  Education at Sagamu, and the 
secondary schools involved also permitted the conduct 
of  this study. Each participant individually consented 
willingly, and all data extracted were kept confidential.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Eight questionnaires were invalid as the participants did 
not fill in the parameters asked, giving a 98% response 
rate. The results are presented below in tables and figures.

Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of  the respondents (n=388)
Socio-demographic variables considered Respondents in this study (n=388) 

Frequency(n) Percentage (%)
Age (in years) 
11-13 19 4.9



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A majority (76.0%) of  the students were between ages 14-
16, with the mean age of  respondents being 15.46±1.37 
years. 218 (56.2%) were female, and the majority (74.5%) 
were Christians. The students were somewhat evenly 
distributed among the classes. However, the lowest 
number was in senior secondary school one (SS1) or 
Grade 10. 84.0% were Yorubas.  Approximately 39.4% of  

the respondents’ fathers had secondary school education 
and less than half  (45.4%) of  their mothers had secondary 
school education.

Predisposing Factors to Marijuana Use among the 
Respondents
Virtually all (96.1%) of  the respondents have heard of  

Table 2: Respondents’ knowledge about marijuana use (n=388)
Socio-demographic variables considered Respondents in this study (n=388) 

Frequency(n) Percentage (%)
Have you heard about marijuana before?
Yes 373 96.1
No 15 3.9
My knowledge about marijuana is from
Family members 22 5.7
Friend 54 13.9

14-16 295 76.0
17-19 74 19.1
Mean age (x̄) = 15.46±1.37
Gender
Male 170 43.8
Female 218 56.2
Religion
Christianity 289 74.5
Islam 96 24.7
Traditional 3 0.8
Class
SS1 (Grade 10) 110 28.4
SS2 (Grade 11) 138 35.6
SS3 (Grade 12) 140 36.1
Ethnicity
Yoruba 326 84.0
Igbo 45 11.6
Hausa 7 1.8
Others 10 2.6
Father’s educational level
No formal education 18 4.6
Elementary school 30 7.7
Secondary school 153 39.4
HND/University 129 33.2
Postgraduate 58 14.9
Mother’s educational level
No formal education 15 3.9
Elementary school 34 8.8
Secondary school 176 45.4
HND/University 110 28.4
Postgraduate 53 13.7



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marijuana use before the study. More than half  (52.8%) 
of  the respondents knew about marijuana from school, 
while only 5.7% knew about marijuana from family 
members. A majority (96.1%) of  the respondents knew 
that marijuana is an illicit drug and 81.4% of  them knew 
that marijuana is used to treat mental disorders like anxiety 
when administered at a low dose. A majority (95.6%) of  
the respondents knew that marijuana is harmful to health. 

93.3% of  the respondents knew that addiction is an effect 
of  marijuana use. 
Concerning forms of  marijuana use, cigarette (33.0%) 
and powder (29.4%) forms were the most popularly 
known forms among the respondents. Other forms were 
known by just a few number of  the respondents viz liquid 
(13.4%), eating/chewing (10.7%), and inhalable vapor 
(13.4%).

Media 107 27.6
School 205 52.8
Marijuana is an illicit drug.
Yes 373 96.1
No 15 3.9
Marijuana is used to treat mental disorders like anxiety at a low dose.
Yes 316 81.4
No 72 18.6
Using marijuana is harmful to health.
Yes 371 95.6
No 17 4.4
Addiction is an effect of  marijuana use.
Yes 362 93.3
No 26 6.7
*Forms of  marijuana use 
Cigarette 275 33.0
Powder 245 29.4
Liquid 112 13.4
Eating/Chewing 89 10.7
Inhalable vapor 112 13.4
*Marijuana used can result to
Anxiety 97 18.4
Poor judgment 71 13.5
Death 85 16.1
Increased appetite 93 17.6
Cancer 181 34.3

Note: * indicates questions with multiple response

Table 3: Respondents’ attitude towards marijuana use (n=388)
S/No. Items SA A D SD

n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%)
1 My family and friends use it, therefore, I should do so too. 9(2.3) 8(2.1) 87(22.4) 284(73.2)
2 I will openly discuss about marijuana use among adolescents. 100(25.8) 161(41.5) 65(16.8) 62(15.9)
3 I believe marijuana boosts self-confidence. 34(8.8) 64(16.5) 108(27.8) 182(46.9)
4 I would likely use marijuana because it helps the brain to 

function better.
5(1.3) 8(2.1) 89(22.9) 286(73.7)

5 I will make use of  small quantities of  marijuana since it is 
not dangerous.

7(1.8) 12(3.1) 94(24.2) 275(70.9)

6 I do not like my friends using marijuana. 189(51.3) 88(22.7) 36(9.3) 65(16.7)
Note: SA (Strongly Agree, 3); A (Agree, 2); D (Disagree, 1); SD (Strongly Disagree, 0). Likert rating scale = 3×6 = 18



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Most (73.2%) of  the respondents strongly disagreed that 
they should use marijuana because their family and friends 
use it. 67.3% of  the respondents either strongly agreed or 
agreed that they can openly discuss marijuana use among 
adolescents. 27.8% of  the respondents disagreed that 
marijuana boosts self-confidence whereas 46.9% strongly 
disagreed. A majority (73.7%) of  the respondents 
strongly disagreed that they would use marijuana because 

it helps the brain to function better. Most (70.9%) of  the 
respondents strongly disagreed that they would make use 
of  small quantities of  marijuana since it is not dangerous. 
More than half  (51.3%) of  the respondents strongly 
agreed that they do not like their friends to use marijuana.

Reinforcing and Enabling Factors for Marijuana Use 
among the Respondents

Table 4: Respondents’ reinforcing and enabling factors for marijuana use (n=388)
S/No. Items SA A D SD

n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%)
1 Peer influence is not a consideration in adolescents’ 

marijuana use
44(11.3) 75(19.3) 119(30.7) 150(38.7)

2 Family and siblings’ use of  marijuana may encourage 
adolescents to use it 

79(20.4) 103(26.5) 66(17.0) 140(36.1)

3 Easy access to marijuana may aid its use 92(23.7) 148(38.1) 64(16.5) 84(21.7)
4 Marijuana’s low cost enables one to easily access the 

substance
81(20.9) 127(32.7) 92(23.7) 88(22.7)

5 The school environment supports adolescents’ marijuana use 14(3.6) 18(4.6) 75(19.3) 281(72.5)
6 Enforcing substance use regulations and policies will 

reduce marijuana use
149(28.4) 132(34.0) 43(11.1) 64(26.5)

Note: Items 1 and 2 are reinforcing factors; Items 3-6 are enabling factors; SA (Strongly Agree, 3); A (Agree, 2); D (Disagree, 1); SD 
(Strongly Disagree, 0). Likert rating scale = 3×6 = 18

Table 5: Summary of  descriptive statistics of  variables in the study
Variables Maximum Points on 

a Scale of  Measure
Respondents in this study 

(n=388)
Prevalence (%)

x̄ (S.E.)  ±SD
Attitude towards marijuana use 18 13.98(0.13) 2.52 77.6
Reinforcing and enabling factors 18 8.77(0.16) 3.20 48.7

38.7% strongly disagreed and 30.7% only disagreed that 
peer influence is not a consideration in adolescents’ 
marijuana use. Few (20.4%) of  the respondents strongly 
agreed that family and siblings’ use of  marijuana may 
encourage adolescents to use marijuana. Approximately 
23.7% of  the respondents strongly agreed that easy 
access to marijuana aids its use. The respondents 
almost equally agreed and disagreed that the low cost 
of  marijuana enables one to easily access the substance. 
Most (72.4%) of  the respondents strongly disagreed that 
the school environment supports adolescents’ marijuana 
use. Few (28.4%) of  the respondents strongly agreed 

that enforcing substance use regulations and policies will 
reduce marijuana use. 
The respondents’ attitude towards marijuana use 
measured on an 18-point rating scale showed that the 
respondents’ mean score was 13.98±2.52, translating 
to an attitudinal prevalence of  77.6% which means that 
only 77.6% of  the respondents have a positive attitude 
towards marijuana use (see Table 5). In addition, on an 
18-point rating scale, the reinforcing and enabling factors 
for marijuana use among the respondents had a mean 
score of  8.77±3.20 which means that these factors can 
influence 48.7% of  the respondents (See Table 5). 

Table 6: Table 6: Relationship between predisposing factors (level of  knowledge and attitude), reinforcing factors 
(peer influence and family influence), and enabling factors with marijuana use among the respondents
Hypotheses Factors Variables Marijuana use; (n=388)

R p-value
1 Predisposing Level of  knowledge 0.14 0.79**

Attitude towards marijuana use -0.05 0.30**
2 Reinforcing Peer influence 0.11 0.03*

Family influence -0.29 0.57**



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Test of  Hypotheses
Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were 
conducted at a 0.05 level of  significance. At p≤0.05, the 
null hypothesis was rejected and the alternate hypothesis 
was accepted. On the other hand, with p>0.05, the null 
hypothesis was accepted and the alternate hypothesis was 
rejected.

Hypothesis 1
H0: There is no significant relationship between 

predisposing factors and marijuana use among 
adolescents.

H1: There is a significant relationship between 
predisposing factors and marijuana use among adolescents.

Result
As seen in Table 6, the respondents’ predisposing factors 
(knowledge [R=0.14; p=0.79], and attitude [R=-0.05; 
p=0.30]) had a p-value>0.05, thus confirming H0 and 
rejecting H1. Therefore, there is no significant relationship 
between predisposing factors and marijuana use among 
adolescents.

Hypothesis 2
H0: There is no significant relationship between 

reinforcing factors (peer influence and family influence) 
and marijuana use among adolescents.

H1: There is a significant relationship between 
reinforcing factors (peer influence and family influence) 
and marijuana use among adolescents.

Result
As seen in Tables 6 and 7, peer influence has p<0.05 
while family influence has p>0.05. This means that there 
is a significant relationship between peer influence and 
marijuana use. On the other hand, there is no significant 
relationship between family influence and marijuana use.

Hypothesis 3
H0: There is no significant relationship between 

enabling factors and marijuana use among adolescents.
H1: There is a significant relationship between enabling 

factors and marijuana use among adolescents.

Result
Table 6 shows that easy access to marijuana, affordability 
of  marijuana, school support for non-use of  marijuana, 
and policies on marijuana use, all had a p-value>0.05, 
thus confirming H0 and rejecting H1. Therefore, there is 
no significant relationship between enabling factors and 
marijuana use among adolescents.

DISCUSSION
Adolescents in high school tend to be exposed to 
various vices like alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, smoking, 
prostitution, etc by their peers. To shy away from 
segregation or avoid being termed weak, some of  them 
bend to peer influence and get engaged in these bad 
habits. In this study, the spectrum of  adolescent marijuana 
use including associated factors, determinants and scope 
among adolescents attending secondary schools in 
Sagamu, South-West Nigeria were evaluated.
This study shares similar socio-demographic 
characteristics with that of  another study (Almahdi, 
2018). The similarities are that most of  the respondents 
were 14-16 years old, and female respondents were 
more than males. Sagamu is the headquarters of  Sagamu 
Local Government Area (LGA) in Ogun State, South-
West Nigeria. South-West Nigeria is a geopolitical zone, 
occupied and dominated by the Yoruba tribe. This fact 
explains why most (84.0%) of  the respondents were 
Yorubas. Less than half  of  the parents had university 
degree or postgraduate qualification. Fathers achieved 
this feat as 48.1% of  them either had a first degree or 
a postgraduate degree, as against 42.1% of  the mothers.
The data obtained on the predisposing factors (knowledge 
and attitude towards marijuana use) indicated that a 
majority (92.5%) of  the respondents have a high basic 
knowledge of  marijuana use and 77.6% of  them have 
a positive attitude towards marijuana use. This result 
on knowledge is similar to the finding of  another study 
which reported that most of  the school-going adolescents 
in Ramotswa, Botswana are aware of  substance use and 
abuse (Gotsang, 2017). However, unlike this study which 
showed that the highest number of  the students first 
learned about marijuana in school, most of  the students 
in Ramotswa learned about marijuana from television. 

Table 7: Association between peer influence and marijuana use among the respondents
Variable Marijuana use

Respondents in this study (n=388)
Peer influence R R2 B Βeta F p-value

0.105 0.011 0.245 0.245 4.311 0.039

3 Enabling Easy access to marijuana -0.09 0.69**
Affordability of  marijuana -0.02 0.59**
School support for non-use 0.06 0.18**
Policies on marijuana use -0.03 0.55**

Note: * = statistically significant; **= not statistically significant



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An international prospective study on the knowledge 
and attitude of  adolescents to marijuana use also 
showed that 20% of  the respondents admitted not being 
knowledgeable about marijuana while the remaining 
80% only had partial knowledge of  marijuana (Jacobs, 
2021). As only a few of  them could identify the forms 
of  marijuana; therefore, the level of  knowledge does 
not translate to respondents using marijuana. It was also 
reported that 40% of  secondary school students in Oyo 
State, Southwest Nigeria had positive attitude towards 
substance use (Ajibola, 2018) which is lower than the 
77.6% reported in this study. The high values reported on 
knowledge and attitude in this study could be attributed to 
the measures the schools are currently taking to enlighten 
their students on substance use and its adverse effects.
The reinforcing and enabling factors were evaluated to 
likely influence 48.7% of  the respondents in this study. The 
reinforcing factors made up of  peer influence and family 
influence are similar to the variables evaluated by another 
study on the assessment of  alcohol and substance use 
among undergraduates in Southwest Nigeria (Adekeye, 
2012). The answers on the enabling factors including 
easy access to marijuana, its affordability, school support 
for non-use of  marijuana, and policies on marijuana use 
were distributed almost evenly among the respondents. 
This divided opinion explains why the reinforcing and 
enabling factors could influence almost half  (48.7%) of  
the respondents.
The prevalence rate of  marijuana use among the 
respondents was low as approximately 30 (7.2%) out of  
the 388 agreed to have either used or are currently using 
marijuana. A different study reported a higher prevalence 
rate and found that 65% of  high school students in 
Nigeria use substances like tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, 
etc. (Abudu, 2008). This nationwide analysis showed that 
students use these drugs for a good time with their pals 
(Abudu, 2008). A similar study in Sagamu, this study area, 
reported a 76% prevalence rate among secondary school 
students (Ojieabu, 2017), and a 17.4% prevalence rate of  
substance use among students in Ramotswa, Botswana 
has also been reported (Gotsang, 2017). Another study 
reported 2% prevalence rate of  marijuana use among 
school-going adolescents in eight Sub-Saharan African 
countries: Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritius, Mozambique, 
Namibia, Seychelles, and Tanzania (Kugbey, 2023). 
The test of  Hypothesis 1 in this study revealed that 
there is no significant relationship between predisposing 
factors (knowledge and attitude) and marijuana use 
among adolescents. This means that knowledge and 
attitude are not significant determinants of  marijuana 
use, a hypothesis supported by the findings of  another 
study (Duru, 2017) which stated that predisposing 
factors do not influence substance use. However, another 
study has reported that there is a significant relationship 
between knowledge and marijuana use (Kugbey, 2023). 
Adolescence comes with various challenges. A child 
acquires knowledge as he grows. However, due to the 
curious nature of  adolescents, they tend to indulge in 

some acts they categorically know have implications. This 
explains why the high knowledge and positive attitude 
do not significantly determine marijuana use by the 
respondents.  
The test of  Hypothesis 2 showed that peer influence 
is a significant determinant of  marijuana use (p<0.05), 
whereas family influence is not (p>0.05). The findings 
on reinforcing factors in this study are almost similar to 
that of  another study which stated that both parental 
use and peer influence have no significant contribution 
(p>0.05) to student’s use of  alcohol and other substances 
including marijuana (Adekeye, 2015). As adolescents 
progress to secondary school, they spend more time with 
their friends at school as their time at home reduces. This 
idea gives insight to why peer influence could significantly 
determine marijuana use and family influence could not. 
Strict training by a parent that uses marijuana may likely 
make an adolescent not use marijuana, but once there is 
an interaction with friends that use it, such an adolescent 
may choose to have a taste of  it due to adolescent 
curiosity. 
Finally, the test of  Hypothesis 3 in this study showed 
that the enabling factors are not significant determinants 
of  marijuana use among the respondents. Prospects 
for further research will be to recommend that socio-
demographic variables like age, gender, religion, family 
size, and family income be statistically analyzed to identify 
their significant relationships with marijuana use.

CONCLUSION
Peer influence was the only significant determinant of  
marijuana use among adolescents attending secondary 
schools in Sagamu, South-West Nigeria. Other 
determinants e.g. knowledge, attitude, family or siblings’ 
use of  marijuana, easy access to marijuana, low cost of  
marijuana, school support for non-use of  marijuana, and 
policies on marijuana use are not significant determinants 
of  marijuana use among adolescents. The scope of  
marijuana use in this study includes the prevalence rate 
of  marijuana use, which was low (7.2%), and the purpose 
of  marijuana use, which was mainly for exam success. 
Even though the variables that make up the predisposing, 
reinforcing (except peer influence), and enabling factors 
have no significant relationship with marijuana use; 
nevertheless, 48.7% is a huge figure to ignore. Therefore, 
families, schools, and governments must contribute their 
quota in reducing marijuana use among adolescents.

Acknowledgments
Special thanks to all secondary school students in 
Sagamu, South-West Nigeria who voluntarily consented 
to participate in this study after making an informed 
decision. Their assistance in conducting this research is 
highly appreciated.

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