Out of the total of 624 questionnaires that were distributed in the course of the study, 535 questionnaires were properly filled and returned – showing a response rate of 85.7%. Specifically, 209 questionnaires were returned from respondents in Owerri North, 221 and 105 questionnaires in Owerri West and Municipal respectively.
Socio-demographic Data Of The Respondents
Table 1
highlights the distribution of respondents according to their sex, age, educational attainment, marital status and occupation.
Socio-demographics |
Sex | No of Respondents | Percentage (%) | |
Male | 255 | 47.7 | |
Female | 280 | 52.3 | |
Total | 535 | 100 | |
Age of respondents | Male (%) | Female (%) | Total (%) |
18–27 years | 110(43.1) | 93(33.2) | 203(37.9) |
28–37 years | 33(12.9) | 101(36.1) | 134(25.0) |
38–47 years | 60(23.6) | 42(15.0) | 102(19.2) |
48–57 years | 48(18.8) | 41(14.6) | 89(16.6) |
58 years and above | 4(1.6) | 3(1.1) | 7(1.3) |
Total | 255(100) | 280(100) | 535(100) |
Educational attainment | Male (%) | Female (%) | |
No formal education | 12 (4.7) | 44 (15.7) | 56(10.5) |
Primary school | 22 (8.6) | 47 (16.8) | 69(12.9) |
Secondary school | 29 (11.4) | 92 (32.9) | 121(22.6) |
N.C.E* | 42 (16.5) | 18 (6.4) | 60(11.2) |
OND/HND** | 50 (19.6) | 38 (13.5) | 88(16.5) |
B.Sc./B.Tech. | 80 (31.4) | 40 (14.3) | 120(22.4) |
Other (specify) | 20 (7.8) | 1 (0.4) | 21(3.9) |
Total | 255 (100) | 280 (100) | 535(100) |
Marital status | Male (%) | Female (%) | |
Married | 64(25.1) | 127(45.4) | 191(35.7) |
Widowed | 0(0) | 23(8.2) | 23(4.3) |
Divorced | 9(3.5) | 10(3.6) | 19(3.6) |
Separated | 19(7.5) | 32(11.4) | 51(9.5) |
Single | 163(63.9) | 88(31.4) | 251(46.9) |
Total | 255(100) | 280(100) | 535(100) |
Occupation | Male (%) | Female (%) | |
Unemployed | 23(9.0) | 42(15.0) | 65(12.1) |
Trading | 77(30.2) | 122(43.6) | 199(37.2) |
Business | 145(56.9) | 88(31.4) | 233(43.6) |
Civil service | 4(1.5) | 26(9.3) | 30(5.6) |
Other (specify ) | 6(2.4) | 2(0.7) | 8(1.5) |
Total | 255(100) | 280(100) | 535(100) |
• *N.C.E. – National Certificate Examination ** OND- Ordinary National Diploma **Higher National Diploma |
Factors Influencing Adolescents’ Involvement In Illicit Drug Use
The information in Table 2 shows that across all three LGAs, 50.7% of the respondents, in a multiple item response choice asserted that peer influence, emotional problems, relationship problems, wanting to feeling ‘high’ and ‘other’ identified reasons (such as, early childhood abuse, to fight depression, media projects drugs as okay, easy access to drugs and isolation) are factors influencing adolescent consumption of illicit drugs. Furthermore, 14.4% of the respondents felt that peer influence and emotional problems only, are factors that predispose adolescents to engaging in the consumption of illicit drugs. Also, while 8.0% of the respondents averred that emotional problems and wanting to feel ‘high’ are factors that predispose adolescents to engaging in the consumption of illicit drugs, 9.9% felt that relationship problems and wanting to feel ‘high’ are factors that predispose adolescents to engaging in the consumption of illicit drugs. Additionally, 8.2% of the respondents were of the opinion that adolescents in the area engage in the consumption of illicit drugs because they want to perform better in competitions (e.g., debate, sports, etc) and because of emotional problems. However, 8.8% of the respondents felt that other reasons other than those mentioned in the questionnaire were responsible for adolescents’ consumption of illicit drugs in the study area. This result is an indication that majority of the respondents hold the view that peer influence, emotional problems, relationship problems, wanting to feeling ‘high’ and ‘other’ identified reasons are factors that predispose adolescents to engaging in the consumption of illicit drugs.
Table 2
Distribution of respondents on the reasons why adolescents consume the types of drugs they consume
Why do adolescents consume the types of drugs they do? (multiple choice response) | North (%) | West (%) | Municipal (%) | Total (%) |
Peer influence, Emotional problems, Relationship problems, To feel ‘high’, Other | 99(47.4) | 107(48.4) | 65(61.9) | 271(50.7) |
Peer influence, Emotional problems | 27(12.9) | 38(17.2) | 12(11.4) | 77(14.4) |
Emotional problems, To feel ‘high’ | 18(8.6) | 22(10.0) | 3(2.9) | 43(8.0) |
Relationship problems, To feel ‘high’ | 23(11.0) | 22(10.0) | 8(7.6) | 53(9.9) |
To perform better in competitions (e.g., debate, sports, etc), Emotional problems | 12(5.7) | 18(8.1) | 14(13.3) | 44(8.2) |
Other (specify) | 30(14.4) | 14(6.3) | 3(2.9) | 47(8.8) |
Total | 209(100) | 221(100) | 105(100) | 535(100) |
For the qualitative findings, respondents were asked to give reasons why they think adolescents consume illicit drugs. Reacting to this, respondents mentioned such factors as peer pressure, family background, emotional problems, major life events or unique experience (death of a loved one, affliction or misfortune), youthful exuberance, the need to feel ‘high’, mass media, personality factors, among others. Respondents were also asked to discuss the ways in which these factors impact on adolescents’ choice of illicit drug use and behaviour. One of the respondents who described how emotional problems impact adolescents’ choice of illicit drug use and behaviour had this to say:
“We are all emotional creatures and feel the impact of happenings around us and to us either directly or indirectly on a daily basis. For example, someone may feel that the economic realities are so harsh and thus insolvent and may experience depression. Depending on his/her ability to cope with the situation, such a person may take to illicit drugs as a temporary measure to forget about his/her environment” (RepOD).
Another respondent who spoke extensively on how major life events or unique experience (death of a loved one, affliction or misfortune) can influence adolescents’ illicit drug use opined that:
“We live in a world where events and certain situations are bound to take place. Sometimes, the death of a loved one can create a vacuum in one’s heart that only drugs can fill, even if its short lived. Also, some experience can cause a dramatic change in a persons’ life to an extent that taking to drugs become the only escape route. For instance, a rape or incest victim may constantly take to drugs whenever she thinks of the horrific experience she had. This would temporarily put her mind away from the situation. Such event like this can have a long term impact on an adolescent’s drug use choice and practice” (Nurse).
If adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences
Respondents views were sought on whether or not adolescents would consume illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, weed, etc) if they knew the possible consequences. According to the data in Table 3, over half (58.3%) of the entire respondents disagreed that adolescents would consume illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, weed, etc) if they knew the possible consequences; 34.6% agreed, while 7.1% indicated that they did not know the likely outcome. Specifically, more females than males in Owerri west (82.6% females compared to 63.4% males) and Owerri north (72.0% females compared to 62.7% males) disagreed that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences. Also, while 36.3% of the male and 28.0% of the female respondents agreed that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences, only 1.0% of the male respondents did not know whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the consequences. Similarly, while 35.7% of the male and 17.4% of the female respondents agreed that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences, only 0.9% of the male respondents did not know whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the consequences. Nevertheless, the highest proportions of both male (62.1%) and female (48.9%) respondents in Owerri metropolis agreed that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences. While 34.5% of male and 34.0% of female respondents did not know whether adolescents would continue to consume illicit drugs even if they knew the consequences, 3.4% of male and 17.0% of female respondents disagreed with the view.
Table 3
Distribution of respondents by sex and whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, weed, etc.) if they knew its possible consequences
Would adolescents still consume illicit drugs if they knew their consequences? | North (%) | West (%) | Municipal (%) | Total (%) |
Male (%) | Female (%) | Male (%) | Female (%) | Male (%) | Female (%) | |
Yes | 37(36.3) | 30(28.0) | 40(35.7) | 19(17.4) | 36(62.1) | 23(48.9) | 185(34.6) |
No | 64(62.7) | 77(72.0) | 71(63.4) | 90(82.6) | 2(3.4) | 8(17.0) | 312(58.3) |
Don’t know | 1(1.0) | - | 1(0.9) | - | 20(34.5) | 16(34.1) | 38(7.1) |
Total | 102(100) | 107(100) | 112(100) | 109(100) | 58(100) | 47(100) | 535(100) |
The information in Table 4 shows a sex disaggregated distribution of respondents on reasons adolescents would consume illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, weed, etc) if they knew their possible consequences. The result shows that a high proportions of both male (29.0%) and female respondents (33.3%) from Owerri North stated that because habitual compulsive behaviours are difficult to change, adolescents would continue to consume illicit drugs even if they knew the possible consequences. Also 35.5% of male respondents stated that the belief that these consequences are over exaggerated encouraged adolescents to continue to consume illicit drugs. More of female respondents (19.4%) than their male counterparts (12.9%) argued that peer group influence is a motivator for continuous illicit drugs among adolescents. In Owerri West, 70.5% of the male respondents argued that social comparison, the belief that the consequences of illicit drug use are over exaggerated and the fact that habitual compulsive behaviours are difficult to change explains why adolescents would not stop using illicit drug use. Meanwhile, the highest proportion of the female respondents (48.0%) from Owerri West was of the view that the fact that habitual compulsive behaviours are difficult to change explains why adolescents would not stop using illicit drug use. Also, 32.0% of the female respondents in this area also stated that social comparison and the belief that the consequences of illicit drug use are over exaggerated explains why adolescents would not stop using illicit drug. In the Municipal area, majority of both male (67.7%) and female (57.1%) respondents expressed the view that the fact that habitual compulsive behaviours are difficult to change explains why adolescents would not stop using illicit drug use.,. However, more females (17.9%) than males (9.7%) expressed the view that the belief that the consequences of illicit drug use are over exaggerated explains why adolescents would not stop using illicit drug use despite having knowledge of its negative effects.
In sum, 42.2% of the entire study respondents believed that because it is difficult to change habitual compulsive behaviours, adolescents would continue to use illicit drugs even if they knew about the possible consequences; meanwhile 12.4%, 10.3%, 18.4%, 14.6% and 2.2% thought that peer group influence, social comparison, belief that the consequences of illicit drugs are over exaggerated, the belief that present feeling can’t be compared to any latter consequences and youthful exuberance respectively, account for why adolescents would continue to take to illicit drugs even if they knew the possible consequences. Overall, the result implies that the perception that habitual behaviours are difficult to change and thus encouraging adolescents to continue to take to illicit drugs was expressed by majority of the study respondents.
Table 4
Distribution of respondents by sex and their reasons why adolescents would consume illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, weed, etc) if they knew its possible consequences
Reasons adolescents would consume illicit drugs despite knowledge of their effect | North (%) | West (%) | Municipal (%) | Total (%) |
Male (%) | Female (%) | Male (%) | Female (%) | Male (%) | Female (%) | |
Peer group influence | 4(12.9) | 7(19.4) | 4(11.8) | 2(8.0) | 2(6.5) | 4(14.3) | 23(12.4) |
Social comparisons | 2(6.5) | 3(8.3) | 8(23.5) | 4(16.0) | 2(6.5) | - | 19(10.3) |
Belief that consequences are over exaggerated | 11(35.5) | 7(19.4) | 4(11.8) | 4(16.0) | 3(9.7) | 5(17.9) | 34(18.4) |
The belief that present feeling can’t be compared to any latter consequences | 5(16.1) | 7(19.4) | 8(23.5) | 3(12.0) | 3(9.7) | 1(3.6) | 27(14.6) |
Habitual compulsive behaviours are difficult to change | 9(29.0) | 12(33.3) | 8(23.5) | 12(48.0) | 21(67.7) | 16(57.1) | 78(42.2) |
Youthful exuberance | - | - | 2(5.9) | - | | 2(7.1) | 4(2.2) |
Total | 31(100) | 36(100) | 34(100) | 25(100) | 31(100) | 28(100) | 185(100) |
In order to complement the quantitative data, we asked the IDI respondents the following: To what extent are adolescents likely to use drugs like marijuana, cocaine, tobacco and alcohol if they knew the possible consequences? Here, the majority of the respondents averred that the knowledge of the consequences of drug intake cannot necessarily decrease its usage. To them, the instant gratification and the euphoria that come with drug use may encourage adolescents to rationalize illicit drug use. One of the respondents puts it this way:
“Because adolescents perceive issues relating to the implications of illicit drugs on human lives as an abstract subject, they tend to justify the existence of drugs. Some of the adolescents go as far as arguing that illicit drug use is as old as man and because a pocket of people die due to drug use, does not mean that it will kill everyone. One of the younger folks I counseled at a time, told me that drug kills people who are not smart at taking it. The implication is this: it is either the usage increases or stays the same way” (Nurse).
Other respondents who perceived that the knowledge of the consequences of illicit drugs can influence adolescents to decrease their drug intake expressed the view that adolescents may find it very difficult to actually stop; however, they can decide to stop or reduce the intake if they are faced with pernicious situations. Bolstering this position, one of the respondents averred that: “the crisis that comes with addiction and the whole withdrawal symptoms thing can make the knowledge of the consequences of illicit drugs meaningless” (Youth leader, male).
Respondents were asked to state whether there is a difference in drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not. In line with this, Table 5 shows that 51.4% stated that there is a difference in drug use between in-school and out-of-school adolescents. On the contrary, 37.4% of the respondents said there is no difference. However, 11.2% of the respondents did not know whether a difference exists. This result reflects the fact that majority of the respondents find a difference in drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not. Furthermore, we asked respondents who thought there is a difference between adolescents who are in school and those who are not to state these differences, they believed that in-school adolescents are less likely to engage in drug use than out-of-school adolescents because they are more knowledgeable about the consequences and more exposed than out-of-school adolescents.
Table 5
Distribution of Respondents on whether there is a difference in drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not
Difference? | North (%) | West (%) | Municipal (%) | Total (%) |
Yes | 100(47.8) | 144(65.2) | 31(29.5) | 275(51.4) |
No | 77(36.8) | 60(27.1) | 63(60.0) | 200(37.4) |
Don’t know | 32(15.4) | 17(7.7) | 11(10.5) | 60(11.2) |
Total | 209(100) | 221(100) | 105(100) | 535(100) |
Hypotheses
Hypothesis 1
Males are more likely than females to perceive that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences.
H1
Males are more likely than females to perceive that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences.
H0
Males are less likely than females to perceive that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences.
This hypothesis was tested using analyzed data in Tables 1 and 3. While data in Table 1 contains respondents’ information on sex, Table 3 contained information on the perception of respondents on whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences. Furthermore, respondents’ information in Table 3 was re-coded and categorized into two independent categories; with respondents who said ‘don’t know’ being excluded from the categories and thus the analysis. In order to test this hypothesis, a chi-square (X2) test of independence and the statistical package (SPSS 21.0) were employed. However, a cross tabulation of the independent variable (respondents’ sex) and the dependent variable (respondents’ perception on whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences) were computed and presented in Table 12 below:
Table 12
Respondents’ sex and perception on whether adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences
Respondents’ sex | Adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences | Total |
Yes (%) | No (%) |
Male | 112(60.5) | 132(42.3) | 244(49.1) |
Female | 73(39.5) | 180(57.7) | 253(50.9) |
Total | 185(100) | 312(100) | 497(100) |
X2 = 15.5, df = 1, N = 497, p < .001 |
From Table 12 above, it could be observed that of all the respondents who said that adolescents would consume illicit drugs even if they knew the possible consequences, majority were males (60.5%) and the remaining 39.5% were females. On the other hand, more than half of the respondents who disagreed with this statement were females while the remaining 42.3% were males. This output suggests that there were more female than male respondents who did not think that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences.
A further observation of the chi-square output shows a statistically significant difference in the proportion of male and female respondents regarding their perception of whether adolescents would still consume illicit drugs even if they knew the consequences (X2 = 15.5; df = 1, N = 497, P < .001). In other words, the X2 value of 15.5 indicates a remarkable difference between the observed proportional differences and what is expected by chance occurrence. In order to ensure that no assumptions were violated, appropriate steps were taken, and it was established that the calculated X2 value at 15.5 is greater than the tabulated value X2 value at 10.828. As a result, the substantive hypothesis that: “Male respondents are more likely than female respondents to perceive that adolescents would consume illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences.” is upheld.
Hypothesis 2
Persons with higher level of education are more likely than those with lower level of education to perceive a significant difference in drug use between in – school and out – of – school adolescents.
H1
Persons with higher level of education are more likely than those with lower level of education to perceive a significant difference in drug use between in – school and out – of – school adolescents.
H0
Persons with higher level of education are less likely than those with lower level of education to perceive a significant difference in drug use between in – school and out – of – school adolescents.
The hypothesis was tested using analyzed data in Tables 1 and 5. While the data in Table 5 contains respondents’ information on whether there is a difference in drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not (e.g., dropouts), the data in Table 1 containing information on respondents educational levels (amongst others) were re-categorized with respondents with no formal education, primary school and secondary school classified as belonging to a lower educational level (246 in all) and respondents in the other categories as those with a higher level of education (289 in all). Here, respondents’ information in Table 5 were re-coded and categorized into two independent categories; with respondents who said ‘don’t know’ being excluded from the analysis. Here, only 475 respondents’ information were used for testing the hypothesis. In order to test this hypothesis, a chi-square (X2) test of independence and the statistical package (SPSS 21.0) were employed. This response is reflected in Table 13.
Table 13
Respondents’ educational levels and their perception on whether there is a difference in drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not
Respondents’ Educational Levels | perception of drug use between adolescents who are in school and those who are not | Total |
Yes (%) | No (%) |
High | 175(71.4) | 100(43.5) | 275(57.9) |
Low | 70(28.6) | 130(56.5) | 200(42.1) |
Total | 245(100) | 230(100) | 475(100) |
X2 = 36.9, df = 1, N = 497, p < .001 | | |
From Table 13, it could be observed that of all the study respondents who perceived a difference between adolescents who are in school and those who are not as regards their drug use, a greater majority (71.4%) were in the category of those with higher educational level, while the remaining 28.6% were in the category of those with lower educational level. On the other hand, majority of the respondents (56.5%) who perceived that there is no difference between adolescents who are in school and those who are not as regards their drug use were in the category of those with higher educational level, while the remaining 43.5% were in the category of those with lower educational level. Overall, more respondents with higher level of education than those with a lower level of education perceived a difference between adolescents who are in school and those who are not as regards their drug use. A further observation of the chi-square output shows a statistically significant difference in the proportion of respondents with higher level of education and those with a lower level perceived a difference between adolescents who are in school and those who are not as regards their drug use (X2 = 36.9; df = 1, N = 497, P < .001). In other words, the X2 value of 15.5 indicates a remarkable difference between the observed proportional differences and what is expected by chance occurrence. In order to ensure that no assumptions were violated, appropriate steps were taken, and it was established that the calculated X2 value at 36.9 is greater than the tabulated value X2 value at 10.828. As a result, the substantive hypothesis that: “Respondents with higher level of education are more likely than those with lower level of education to perceive a significant difference in drug use between in – school and out – of – school adolescents.” is upheld.