Abstract
BackgroundAlthough various reasons for adolescent marijuana use have extensively been explored, contextual factors that sustain the practice in settings where the plant is illegally cultivated, especially in South Africa, remain a grey area.AimWe aimed to explore the contextual factors of sustained adolescent marijuana use in two illicit marijuana-growing settings of the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality of South Africa, based on the differential opportunity theory (DOT) and subcultural theory (SCT).SettingThe study was conducted in two illicit marijuana-growing communities in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.MethodsExploratory qualitative research, using focus group discussions approach, was conducted amongst 37 participants, four focus groups and in two communities in the Ingquza Hill Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the communities and participants, respectively. The data were analysed using a thematic content analysis approach and presented under various themes.ResultsNine themes, grouped under two broad factors, DOT influences (availability and affordability of marijuana, idleness and means of dealing with personal problems) and SCT influences (peer conformity, the pleasure derived from marijuana smoking, manipulation of appetite, health reasons, for higher cognitive function and addiction), emerged from the analysis.ConclusionAs marijuana has been identified to be a gateway drug for the use of other illicit drugs, its sustained usage amongst adolescents poses a health challenge to the user, community and the country’s healthcare system at large. Hence, there is the need to intensify adolescent marijuana use prevention campaigns in illicit marijuana-growing contexts of South Africa, focussing on the differential opportunities and subcultural inclinations that promote the behaviour in those contexts.
Highlights
IntroductionMid-to-late adolescence, referred to as emerging adulthood, has been identified as the period when substance use is highly pronounced.[4,5] During adolescence, contextual factors such as peer conformity, availability of substances in one’s environment and curiosity, amongst others, greatly influence substance use.[6] adolescents from all walks of life are confronted with substance use, those from neighbourhoods where illicit drugs are produced are at most risk
Adolescent substance use is a major public health issue confronting many countries,[1,2] including South Africa.[3]Mid-to-late adolescence, referred to as emerging adulthood, has been identified as the period when substance use is highly pronounced.[4,5] During adolescence, contextual factors such as peer conformity, availability of substances in one’s environment and curiosity, amongst others, greatly influence substance use.[6]
Nine reasons were given by participants about why they continue to use marijuana, which have been grouped into differential opportunity and sub-cultural factors
Summary
Mid-to-late adolescence, referred to as emerging adulthood, has been identified as the period when substance use is highly pronounced.[4,5] During adolescence, contextual factors such as peer conformity, availability of substances in one’s environment and curiosity, amongst others, greatly influence substance use.[6] adolescents from all walks of life are confronted with substance use, those from neighbourhoods where illicit drugs are produced are at most risk This is often a result of the availability and ease of accessibility to drugs in such settings.[7]. Various reasons for adolescent marijuana use have extensively been explored, contextual factors that sustain the practice in settings where the plant is illegally cultivated, especially in South Africa, remain a grey area
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