In this insightful piece by Favour Ozioma Ogbodo, the real life account of Bamzy highlights the dependence of Nigerian youths on marijuana, also called cannabis, despite the associated health hazards.
“Marijuana makes me happy…”
“My name is Bamzy. I live in Abuja. Marijuana has had positive and negative effects in my life. I have been using it for the past 7 years to quell my anger issues, depression and anxiety. I kept taking it and now its amongst my daily routine. I can’t go a day without taking it. I get elated the short period of my intake of marijuna but it doesn’t take my problems away.”
Bamzy (real name withheld on request) is one of the youths who resides in Abuja. He candidly shared his seven-year journey with marijuana with African Health Report (AHR), ssying he depends on it to control his emotions. In the same interview, he admitted that while the drug provides a temporary elation and eventually became a part of his daily life, it does not provide solutions to the problems that prompted the dependence.
Like Bamzy, there is Frank, another young Nigerian in his early 20s, who has explored marijuana. For him, peer pressure was the push that led him to taking the drug.
He narrated, “I started taking marijuana, popular known as weed when I was in secondary school in 2011. This was due to my peers at that time. They told me it was awesome so I decided to try it out. It gave the euphoria of calmness but only for a short while. I don’t take marijuana anymore.”
According to a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) titled ‘Drug Use in Nigeria’, cannabis is the most commonly used drug. An estimated 10.8 per cent per cent of the population or 10.6 million people, had used cannabis in the past year (2017). The average age of initiation of cannabis use among the general population was 19 years.
It added cannabis use was 7 times higher among men, 18.8 per cent among men vs. 2.6 per cent of women.
Another 2020 research on cannabis use motivation showed that the need for social, conformity and enhancement were identified as reasons for indulging in its abuse.
It revealed that marijuana served as a social lubricant for drug-related leisure which led to new friendships and relationships. Taking cannabis in friendship networks was regarded as cushion for 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; a form of peer pressure.
Conforming to masculinity norms to avoid shaming also necessitated excessive cannabis use among some youths, it added, but women strategically used excuses to escape using large quantities.
Also, it found that claims about academic enhancements also motivated cannabis use. Inspiration, alertness and assimilation, and enhancing better performance in oral and written examinations were also cited as motivation for annabis use.
Other factors that have been identified as promoting reliance on marijuana among youths include poverty, unemployment/joblessness/idleness, emotional/mental health issues, inadequate parental supervision, enticement, curiosity, etc
Marijuana consumption, particularly among Nigerian youths, has become a growing concern in recent years. The availability of potent strains like “Loud” and the llegalisation of cannabis in countries like the United States of America have contributed to its increased usage. However, it is essential to address the harmful effects of marijuana on health and explore possible solutions for mitigating this dependency.
Harmful Effects on Health
Some people who use marijuana will develop marijuana use disorder, meaning that they are unable to stop using marijuana even though it’s causing health and social problems in their lives, says the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
It noted that approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have marijuana use disorder. Also, a study ishowed that people who use cannabis have about a 10% likelihood of becoming addicted.
Those at higher risk of developing marijuana use disorder are people who started using it during youth or adolescence, as well as those who use marijuana more frequently, it disclosed.
Signs of marijuana use disorder
Pointers to marijuana addicts include people who use it more than they intend to, those trying but failing to quit using it, spending a lot of time using it and craving marijuana.
Other signs include using marijuana even though it causes problems at home, school, or work, continuing to use marijuana despite social or relationship problems, giving up important activities with friends and family in favour of using marijuana, using marijuana in high-risk situations, such as while driving a car, continuing to use marijuana despite physical or psychological problems, needing to use more to get the same high and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping marijuana use.
CDC noted that people who have marijuana use disorder may also be at a higher risk of other negative consequences such as problems with attention, memory and learning.
“Some people who have marijuana use disorder may need to use more and more marijuana or greater concentrations of marijuana over time to experience a “high.” The greater the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana (in other words, the concentration or strength), the stronger the effects the marijuana may have on the brain. The amount of THC in marijuana has increased over the past few decades,” the health body said.
Solutions and the Way Forward
Findings of a 2016 study titled ‘Marijuana Use and Behavioural Outcomes among Adolescent Youths in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria,’ shows a significant association between marijuana use and disrespectful behaviour among adolescents.
According to the research published on Researchgate, there is a significant relationship between marijuana use and criminal behaviour among adolescent youths. Further findings revealed a significant association between marijuana use and financial mismanagement among youths studied.
One of the ways it recommended to prevent use and dependence on marijuana by youths is more vigilant about the behaviour of their children or wards, as well as being involved in their lives.
Campaigns against marijuana use should be incorporated in health education curriculum for primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions with special focus on the nature and consequences of drugs, it added.
For law enforcement agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, it advised that efforts in the fight against drug abuse, including marijuana should be intensified.
“The collaboration of Law Enforcements with traditional institutional structures not just in checking the drug suppliers but also the users could be helpful in this regard,” the study added.
