Prevalence, Distribution and Attributable Risks of Cannabis Use in Young Adults with Generalised Anxiety Disorder at a University in Botswana

Abstract

Worldwide, cannabis is the most commonly used drug after tobacco and alcohol, especially among young adults. In Africa, cannabis use is often associated with mental health problems. However, few studies have been conducted to assess which mental health problems are linked to cannabis use, particularly among young adults. This study examined the prevalence, distribution and risks of cannabis use attributed to generalised anxiety disorders. Data from 615 young adults (Mean age = 22.15, ±2.55, 18 – 25; 60.2% female) were used to compute the prevalence and distribution of cannabis use and binary logistic regression models fitted to quantify the risk of using cannabis attributed to different levels of anxiety severity. Of the 615 respondents, 13.8%, 20.4% and 31.7% reported using cannabis in the past month, the past year and lifetime, respectively. Similarly, 11.2% were hazardous users and 5.2% had possible cannabis use disorders. The odds of using cannabis varied with the severity of anxiety symptoms. Compared to those with minimal anxiety problems, the risks of using cannabis ranged from 2.61 (95% Confidence Intervals (CI) 1.65-4.93) to 3.72 (95% CI: 2.10-6.61) for mild anxiety and from 3.68 (95% CI: 2.08 – 6.98) to 6.32 (95% CI: 2.40-16.64) for severe anxiety. Interventions to reduce cannabis use and its concomitant long-term negative consequences should target reducing anxiety problems among young adults. Practitioners should prioritise mental health literacy and programmes such as relaxation techniques and guided selfhelp interventions, which are known to be cheap, effective, and efficient in alleviating anxiety problems.