The Use and Prevalence of Cannabis among Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

Cannabis poses a growing public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting various groups, including students. Evidence shows a significant prevalence of Cannabis use among students nationwide, yet limited research has focused on university students, particularly in the Southeast region. This study aimed to assess the extent of Cannabis use and its impact on students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire randomly distributed to select undergraduate students from the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Health Sciences. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27. Out of 377 participants, 113 (30%) reported using Cannabis. Female students accounted for 35.5% of the respondents, while males made up 65.5%. "Weed" emerged as the most prevalent form/identifier of Cannabis prevalent amongst students. The study identified the frequency and patterns of its use, with a majority (41.8% of the Cannabis users) reporting to use it occasionally. It went ahead to establish the various motivations for Cannabis use, including peer influence, confidence building, emotional issues, and recreational purposes, as well as the influence of the media on its prevalence. The media influenced 15.9% of users, while the leading motivation for Cannabis use was peer pressure (33.33%), and followed by emotional challenges (27.27%). Negative mental health effects were reported by 18.3% of users, while 25.8% experienced disrupted Sleep patterns as a result of Cannabis use. Additionally, 58.7% observed a significantly increased appetite as a result of the use of Cannabis. Consequently, engineering students exhibited the highest prevalence of Cannabis use (86.2%) compared to other faculties, and female students (68.5%) were found to be more significantly represented among Cannabis users than their male counterparts (50.2%). These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and faculty-specific strategies to address Cannabis use, while also paying attention to gender-specific factors contributing to its prevalence.