Problematic Use of Cannabis in Cotonou: Profile of Some Subjects Received in the Laboratory between 2016 and 2021

Ferdinand M Adounkpe; Luc Behanzin; Bienvenu S Adehan; Marc Medehouenou; Ornella Daoudou; Assad Bio-Sya; Odile Kougblenou; Arnaud Agbanlinsou; Clément Agbangla

doi:10.1155/2022/9702766

Problematic Use of Cannabis in Cotonou: Profile of Some Subjects Received in the Laboratory between 2016 and 2021

J Addict. 2022 Oct 28:2022:9702766. doi: 10.1155/2022/9702766. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ National Laboratory of Narcotics and Toxicology (NLST)/Beninese Center for Scientific Research and Innovation (CBRSI)/University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
² National School for Training of Senior Technicians in Public Health and Epidemiological Surveillance, (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
³ Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis, Research Center of the CHU de Québec - Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
⁴ Institut National de Recherches Agricoles du Benin (INRAB) Cotonou, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁵ Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁶ Laboratory of Sociology and Applied Medical Anthropology (LAMA), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁷ Laboratory of Histology, Reproductive Biology, Cytogenetics and Medical Genetics (LHBRCGM), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁸ Laboratory of Genetic and Biotechnology (LGB), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

Abstract

Aims: The frequent use of cannabis by certain social strata often induces behavioral changes whose severity deserves to be evaluated. This study aims to describe the profile of some subjects in a situation of cannabis dependence received at the National Laboratory of Narcotics and Toxicology over the period from January 2016 to December 2021. Methodology. The approach of direct interviews with the respondents using a semistructured questionnaire made it possible to collect their sociodemographic characteristics, their experiences, and their reference trajectories.

Results: A total of 48 patients, all single, with an average age of 18.13 ± 0.48 years, the majority of whom were male (77.08%) and of Beninese nationality (85.42%), were enrolled. They were pupils (58.34%), students (27.08%), and workers (14.58%). With a prevalence of consumption of 89.58%, the first experimentation of cannabis was done by imitation (83.3%), among friends (81.2%), and in schools (64.58%). The reasons for use include the search for thrills (29.20%) and the improvement of sexual energy performance (27.1%). Subjects between 64.58 and 79.17% reported having received complaints about their behavior after regular consumption of at least 3 joints of cannabis.

Conclusion: The knowledge of the typical profile of subjects in a situation of dependence ensures early detection of problematic uses of cannabis and offers the opportunity to intervene a little earlier in front of this phenomenon.