Cannabis use motivations: a study of young adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Drug-related problems are growing in Nigeria. Yet, there is a paucity of research on the motives for using cannabis and its contribution to drug-related problems. Understanding the underlying motives for taking cannabis from users’ perspectives would facilitate the provision of harm reduction policies/interventions. Using normalization framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted with young adults who use cannabis in a city located in Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. Data were analysed thematically. Participants shared extensive personal experiences of how cannabis was used for social, conformity, and enhancement motives. Cannabis served as a social lubricant and was taken when they meet for drug-related leisure. Social cannabis use facilitated enacting new friendships and fostering existing relationships. Taking cannabis in friendship networks cushioned the effects of discrimination and enhanced trust-building, which was essential for sharing secrets among drug-users. Cannabis use within friendship networks was normalised and seemingly compulsory; thus, interviewees conformed to group norms, without which peers would not accept them. Conforming to masculinity norms to avoid shaming necessitated excessive cannabis use among men, but women strategically used excuses to escape using large quantities. Academic enhancements also motivated cannabis use. Inspiration, alertness and assimilation, and enhancing better performance in oral and written examinations motivated cannabis use. Findings indicate that gender and the motives for taking cannabis determined the quantities participants used, thus, supporting differentiated normalization. More research is needed to understand better whether or not the strategy women employed to avoid excess cannabis use will help policy interventions.

Keywords:

• Academic enhancement
• cannabis use motives
• conformity
• differentiated normalization
• social motives
• young adults

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the study participants, without whom this study would not have been possible. We also thank Dr John Gardner for his comments on the earlier draft of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.