Cannabis Use Disorder Among First-Year Undergraduate Students in Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) poses major clinical and public health concerns globally. It is a growing problem among the youth in Botswana, yet little research has been done on this subject. The present study hoped to address this gap in knowledge by determining the prevalence and associated factors of CUD among first-year university students in Botswana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 first-year university undergraduates, using a modified version of the 37-item World Health Organization (WHO) drug questionnaire and DSM-5 criteria for CUD. The mean age of the respondents was 20.8 (SD = 1.5) years, and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Of the 401 students whose responses were analyzed, 37(9,2%) had used cannabis at least once in the last 12 months, but only 19 (4.7%) met the DSM-5 criteria for CUD. After binary regression analysis, difficulty in coping with the new environment/academic activities, receiving more than 150 USD monthly were positively associated with CUD, while regular participation in religious activities was negatively associated. CUD was found among the first-year undergraduates studied. Promoting protective activities such as religious activities and strengthening programs that teach students how to cope with academic stress and a new environment would be helpful.

Pattern of substance use and substance use disorder in adolescent learners at public secondary schools in Gaborone, Botswana

“…Of the illicit psychoactive substances, cannabis was the most used amongst the participants of the current study, and it accounted for 9.2% of all the psychoactive substances, which is similar to the report from a previous study among the same population [14]. Of concern is the high prevalence of the non-medical use of codeine in cough syrup, which accounted for more than 8% of drug use among Botswana students.…”

“…On the contrary, no gender difference was found in another study conducted among first-year university students in Botswana [13]. However, parental involvement in psychoactive substances and association with drug-using peers correlated with cannabis use disorder, while frequent religious participation was protective [14].…”

Mental health research in Botswana: a semi-systematic scoping review

“…Other topics covered by the reviewed studies were training, 70 service provision, 21,23–25 caregiver burden, 65 , 71 schizophrenia 24 and effect of family type on mental health. 72 Other findings 73–78 are reported in Table 2.…”

“…There has been a modest increase in psychiatrists in Botswana following the establishment of a medical school in 2009, and this has contributed to a relative increase in mental health research. Of the 21 publications from 2016, almost half (48%) 32 , 36 , 41 , 54 , 58 , 59 , 63 , 73 , 76 , 77 were by authors affiliated to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Botswana. This relatively high output by academic researchers may be because university promotion criteria include research and publications.…”