Lifetime and 12 months cannabis use and disorders among soldiers residing in a military community in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: The main aim of the study was to determine the lifetime and 12 months prevalence of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) and their correlates among a military population in Nigeria.Method: Military officers (N = 223) were interviewed in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview 7.0 was used to generate data on prevalence of cannabis use and to obtain the diagnosis of CUD.Results: Prevalence of lifetime cannabis was 13.5%, 12 months (6.8%), lifetime cannabis abuse (4.9%), lifetime cannabis dependence (0.9%), lifetime CUD (5.8%), and 12-month CUD (2.2%). Predictors at 95% CI of lifetime cannabis use include: elementary education OR = 2.23 (1.13–5.23), Hausa ethnicity/Fulani OR = 2.30, (1.34–5.82), minority tribes OR = 1.33 (1.12–3.66), ever received disciplinary action OR = 1.77, (1.19–5.64), ever deployed to operational areas OR = 1.12 (1.02–3.21), and ever injured in combat OR = 2.45, (1.39–7.41); and predictors of 12 months cannabis use include: elementary education OR = 1.78 (1.09–4.62), Hausa/Fulani ethnicity OR = 2.06 (1.27–533), the minority tribes OR = 1.42 (1.08–4.58), and ever injured in combat OR = 1.79 (1.04–5.21).Conclusion: Certain workplace factors, similar to other parts of the world, were associated with cannabis use in the Nigerian military.