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.
Table 1 Social demographic data of respondents
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 |
Source: (Illicit drug use study 2018)
Factors Influencing Adolescents’ Involvement In Illicit Drug Use
The information in Table 2 shows a multi-choice response of factors that respondents believe influence adolescents’ use of illicit drugs. Majority of the respondents (92.9%) chose peer influence. Other factors chosen are to feel ‘high’ (70.5%) and Emotional/relationship problem (82.6%), amongst others.
Table 2 Factors influencing illicit drug use among adolescents
What are the factors that influence illicit drug use among adolescents? (multiple choice response)
|
Frequency (%)
N = 535
|
Peer influence
|
497 (92.9)
|
Emotional/relationship problems
|
442 (82.6)
|
To feel ‘high’
|
377 (70.5)
|
Others (to before better in competitions like sports and debates and to assimilate better and easier what they read)
|
91 (17)
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper |
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.
Table 3 Would adolescents consume illicit drugs if they knew their consequences
Would adolescents still consume illicit drugs if they knew their consequences?
|
Frequency
n (%)
|
Yes
|
185(34.6)
|
No
|
312(58.3)
|
Don’t know
|
38(7.1)
|
Total
|
535(100)
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper |
The information in Table 4 shows the 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 42.2% of the entire study respondents believed that because it is difficult to change addictive behaviour, adolescents would continue to use illicit drugs even if they knew about the possible consequences.
Table 4 Reasons why adolescents would use illicit drugs if they knew their consequences
Reasons adolescents would consume illicit drugs despite knowledge of their effect
|
Frequency (%)
|
Peer group influence
|
23(12.4)
|
Social comparisons
|
19(10.3)
|
A belief that consequences are over-exaggerated
|
34(18.4)
|
The belief that present feeling can’t be compared to any latter consequences
|
27(14.6)
|
Addictive behaviours are difficult to change
|
78(42.2)
|
Youthful exuberance
|
4(2.2)
|
Total
|
185(100)
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper |
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.
Table 5 Is there a difference in drug use between in-school adolescents and out-of-school adolescents
Difference?
|
Frequency (%)
|
Yes
|
275(51.4)
|
No
|
200(37.4)
|
Don’t know
|
60(11.2)
|
Total
|
535(100)
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper |
Hypotheses testing
Hypothesis 1
There is a significant difference in the proportion of males and females who will perceive that adolescents would consume illicit drugs even if they knew the possible consequences.
This hypothesis was tested using analyzed data in Tables 1 and 3. To test this hypothesis, a chi-square (X2) test of independence and the statistical package (SPSS 21.0) were employed.
Table 6 Sex and perception on adolescents’ consumption of illicit drugs if they knew the possible consequences
Respondents’
sex
|
Would adolescents 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
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper
From Table 6, it could be observed that of all the respondents who said that adolescents would consume illicit drugs even if they knew the possible consequences, the 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).
Hypothesis 2
There is a significant difference in the educational level of respondents who will 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. The data in Table 1 were re-categorized with no formal education, primary school and secondary school being 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, only 475 respondents’ information was used for testing the hypothesis. 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 7.
Table 7 Educational levels and perception of difference in drug use between in-school adolescents and out-of-school
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
|
|
|
Source: Survey (2018) for Illicit Drug paper
From Table 7, 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 a 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 a 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).
Qualitative findings
Reasons adolescents use illicit drugs
For the qualitative findings, 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 how these factors impact on adolescents’ choice of illicit drug use and behaviour. One of the respondents who described how emotional/relationship problems impact adolescents’ choice of illicit drug use and behaviour had this to say:
“… 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 “…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”:
ill adolescents use drugs if they knew the possible consequences?
Majority (81.3%) of the qualitative 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 dies due to drug use, does not mean that it will kill everyone. One of the younger folks I counselled 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 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).