Economic and cultural correlates of cannabis use among mid‐adolescents in 31 countries (original) (raw)
Related papers
2014
To examine cross-national changes in frequent adolescent cannabis use (40+ times consumed over life-time at age 15) over time and relate these trends to societal wealth, family affluence and gender. Design Data from three cycles (2002, 2006, 2010) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study were used for cross-sectional and trend analyses of adolescent cannabis use. Setting Representative surveys in 30 European and North American countries. Participants A total of 160 606 15-year-old students. Measurements Respondents' life-time cannabis use, demographics, family affluence (FAS) and frequency of peer contacts were measured individually. Indicators of wealth (gross domestic product per capita, GDP) and perceived availability of cannabis were obtained from national public data bases. Findings The frequency of life-time cannabis use decreased over time among adolescents in Europe and North America, particularly in western European countries and the United States (relative risk (RR) = 0.86: confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.93). This trend was not observed consistently in rapidly developing countries in eastern, central and southern Europe. Over time (2002-10), cannabis use became: (i) less characteristic of high GDP countries in contrast to lower GDP countries (RR = 0.74: CI 0.57-0.95); (ii) less characteristic of youth from high FAS families in contrast to youth from low FAS families (RR = 0.83: CI 0.72-0.96); and (iii) characterized by an increasing gender gap, i.e. consumption was higher among males (RR 1.26: CI 1.04-1.53). Perceived availability of cannabis and peer contacts remained strong predictors of frequent cannabis use. Conclusions Among 30 European and North American countries, cannabis use appears to have 'trickled down' over time, with developing countries taking on the former (heavier) use pattern of richer countries, and less affluent youth taking on the former (heavier) use pattern of more affluent youth. Cannabis use continues to be more common among adolescent males than females.
International Journal of Drug Policy, 2010
Background-This research examined the prevalence of drinking and cannabis use among adolescents in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, countries with substantially different laws and policies relating to these substances. Method-Laws regarding drinking and marijuana use were rated for each country. Substance use prevalence data among 10 th graders from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey conducted in each country in 2005-06 were examined. Results-Laws regarding alcohol and cannabis were found to be strictest in the United States, somewhat less strict in Canada, and least strict in the Netherlands. On most measures of drinking, rates were lower in the United States than in Canada or the Netherlands. With United States as the referent, relative risks (RR) for monthly drinking were 1.30 (1.11-1.53) for Canadian boys and 1.55 (1.31-1.83) for girls, and 2.0 (1.73-2.31) for Dutch boys and 1.92 (1.62-2.27) for Dutch girls. Drunkenness was also higher among Canadian boys and girls and Dutch boys. However, rates of cannabis use did not differ between the countries, except that Dutch girls were less likely to use cannabis in the past year (RR= .67; 0.46-0.96). Conclusions-The lower prevalence of adolescent drinking and drunkenness (except among Dutch girls) in the United States is consistent with the contention that strict drinking policies may limit drinking among 10 th graders. However, the finding that marijuana use rates did not differ across countries is not consistent with the contention that prohibition-oriented policies deter use or that liberal marijuana policies are associated with elevated adolescent use. Based on these findings, the case for strict laws and policies is considerably weaker for marijuana than for alcohol.
Addictive Behaviors, 2018
Introduction: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in the world. An increasing number of jurisdictions have legalized medical and non-medical cannabis; comparisons across jurisdictions can help evaluate the impact of these policy innovations. The current study examined patterns of cannabis use among youth in Canada (CA), England (EN) and the United States (US). At the time of study, non-medical cannabis use was prohibited federally in all three countries; however, medical cannabis was accessible with varying restrictions in CA, EN and most US states, while non-medical cannabis was legal in four US states. Methods: Data come from an international online survey conducted in July 2017 (n = 12,064). Youth, aged 16-19, were asked about cannabis consumption, perceived access to cannabis, perceptions of harm, and driving after cannabis use. All estimates represent weighted data. Results: US youth were more likely to report more frequent cannabis consumption, easier access, lower perceptions of harm, and higher rates of driving after cannabis use than CA and EN youth. CA youth reported more frequent consumption, easier access, and higher rates of driving after cannabis use than EN youth. Conclusion: CA and US youth had higher prevalence of use, easier access, lower perceived harm and higher driving rates after cannabis use in comparison to EN. These differences may reflect more permissive cannabis policies in CA and US, as well as pre-existing trends. Future waves of the international cannabis study will examine trends over time within the same countries after cannabis legalization in CA and additional US states.
Alcoologie Et Addictologie, 2007
Dans les 32 pays occidentaux ayant participé à l'enquête Health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC-2002), menée en milieu scolaire par autoquestionnaire anonyme auprès de 45 848 élèves, de l'ordre de 20 % des jeunes de 15 ans déclarent avoir déjà pris du cannabis, qui est ainsi le troisième psychotrope consommé derrière l'alcool et le tabac. Partout, les garçons consomment plus que les filles. La France se situe parmi les dix pays ayant les plus forts taux à 15 ans (29,8 %). La majorité des usagers enquêtés appartient aux groupes de l'usage expérimental (1-2 fois dans l'année précédente : 7,9 % des jeunes) ou moyen (3-39 fois: 7,3 %) ; ces groupes étant moins représentés en Europe de l'Est, du Nord et du Sud, au profit de la discontinuation (ont essayé, mais pas de consommation dans l'année précédente). L'usage fréquent est plus rare (2,7 %). Après ajustement sur le niveau économique et l'âge, être un garçon, fumer du tabac (surtout fréquemment), boire de l'alcool (surtout fréquemment) et avoir été ivre (surtout plus de deux fois) augmentent significativement et indépendamment la probabilité d'avoir fumé du cannabis au moins une fois dans la vie. Enfin, il existe un lien entre consommation quotidienne de tabac et d'alcool, ivresses fréquentes et passage d'un usage expérimental à un usage plus fréquent. Ainsi, chez les jeunes, les consommations de psychotropes sont rarement isolées, et il semble exister des sous-groupes plus particulièrement à risque qui méritent toute l'attention de la recherche et la prévention.
Drugs-education Prevention and Policy, 2008
Aims: Most national drug policies target both the supply side and the demand side of illicit drug use. Although such policies are intended to affect individual choices, they by definition operate on a national level and cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of individual-level differences. This study aims to evaluate the impact of country-level differences in the availability and perceived risk of cannabis use on individual-level adolescent cannabis use. Method: The study is based on an analysis of 84,711 students in 31 European countries. Multilevel modelling techniques are used to estimate the effects of country-level differences in the perceptions of availability and risk among non-users on individuallevel odds of 30-day cannabis use. Findings: On the individual level, adolescents who use cannabis find it easier to obtain and less risky if they have used the drug. Controlling for these individual-level associations, adolescents are also found to be less likely to use cannabis in countries where non-users report less availability and more risks associated with cannabis use. Conclusions: These findings support the notion that both supply reduction and demand reduction may reduce the prevalence of adolescent substance use.
Cannabis use among a sample of 16 to 18 year-old students in Switzerland
PubMed, 2014
Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis use among Swiss students and to assess their attitudes regarding health and safety issues associated with drug use. Subjects and methods: After a workshop, 173 students (23.1% male, 75.7% female; 44.4% age 16, 43.8% age 17 and 11.8% age 18) from a Swiss school were surveyed by questionnaire. Results: 59.3% (n=103) of all participants had tried cannabis, and 30.1% of those who reported cannabis use had consumed more than 100 joints. Of those 103 students with cannabis experience, 6.8% rated the risk of cannabis-related psychic effects as low, and 9.8% were not concerned about driving under the influence of cannabis. In cases of heavy cannabis use, the chance of increased tobacco, alcohol or other drug use is higher than for those with less or no cannabis use at all (odds ratios of 4.33-10.86). Conclusions: This paper deals primarily with cannabis prevalence data in adolescents from previous studies and sources, and shows that our findings deviate significantly - and surprisingly - from past research. Our data from a school survey indicates higher cannabis use than data from official drug policy studies. Additionally, our data shows that the students' self-reported attitudes towards health and safety issues were mostly realistic. The examination of methodological issues that might impact prevalence estimates should be added to the cannabis literature.
2007
Dans les 32 pays occidentaux ayant participé à l'enquête Health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC-2002), menée en milieu scolaire par autoquestionnaire anonyme auprès de 45 848 élèves, de l'ordre de 20 % des jeunes de 15 ans déclarent avoir déjà pris du cannabis, qui est ainsi le troisième psychotrope consommé derrière l'alcool et le tabac. Partout, les garçons consomment plus que les filles. La France se situe parmi les dix pays ayant les plus forts taux à 15 ans (29,8 %). La majorité des usagers enquêtés appartient aux groupes de l'usage expérimental (1-2 fois dans l'année précédente : 7,9 % des jeunes) ou moyen (3-39 fois: 7,3 %) ; ces groupes étant moins représentés en Europe de l'Est, du Nord et du Sud, au profit de la discontinuation (ont essayé, mais pas de consommation dans l'année précédente). L'usage fréquent est plus rare (2,7 %). Après ajustement sur le niveau économique et l'âge, être un garçon, fumer du tabac (surtout fréquemment), boire de l'alcool (surtout fréquemment) et avoir été ivre (surtout plus de deux fois) augmentent significativement et indépendamment la probabilité d'avoir fumé du cannabis au moins une fois dans la vie. Enfin, il existe un lien entre consommation quotidienne de tabac et d'alcool, ivresses fréquentes et passage d'un usage expérimental à un usage plus fréquent. Ainsi, chez les jeunes, les consommations de psychotropes sont rarement isolées, et il semble exister des sous-groupes plus particulièrement à risque qui méritent toute l'attention de la recherche et la prévention.
Trends in Lifetime Cannabis Use among Czech School-aged Children from 2002 to 2014
Central European journal of public health, 2017
The aim of the study was to examine trends in the prevalence of lifetime cannabis use among the Czech 15-year old students. Data from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey, conducted in the Czech Republic in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, were used. Trends in cannabis use among both boys and girls were modelled through binary logistic regression with period as a predictor of the lifetime cannabis use. The prevalence of lifetime cannabis use has significantly decreased among young Czechs, particularly among boys. Gender differences in cannabis use have been also gradually decreasing since 2002, with no significant differences between genders in recent period. Although there are positive changes in the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use, from the European perspective, Czech students still belong to those with significantly higher rates in this respect. Thus, alongside with the use of other substances, adolescent cannabis consumption remains an im...