Investigating how perceived risk and availability of marijuana relate to marijuana use among adolescents in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay over time

Illicit drug consumption in Singapore: Where are we in the fight against drugs?

Illicit drug consumption is associated with significant negative health, financial and social consequences. Yet, illicit drug consumption remains highly prevalent and continues to be a growing problem worldwide. In 2021, 1 in 17 people aged 15–64 in the world had used a drug in the past 12 months. Notwithstanding population growth, the estimated number of drug users grew from 240 million in 2011 to 296 million in 2021.

Adolescents' Cannabis Knowledge and Risk Perception: A Systematic Review

To systematically review evidence evaluating cannabis-related knowledge and perception of risk in children and adolescents. We systematically searched Medline, PsycINFO, and EMBASE using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. 133 studies from around the world (including ages 10-18 yrs) met inclusion criteria, with 70% meeting grade 2C quality. Increased knowledge and perception of risk of cannabis frequently correlated with lower levels of current use and intent to use. Studies examining correlations over time generally demonstrated increased adolescent cannabis use and decreased perception of risk. Included prevention-based interventions often enhanced knowledge and/or perception of risk in adolescents exposed to the intervention. Studies exploring outcomes relating to legislative changes for recreational marijuana use demonstrated considerable heterogeneity regarding knowledge and perception of risk whereas studies that focused on medicinal marijuana legislative changes overwhelmingly demonstrated a decrease in perception of risk post legalization. Increased knowledge and perception of risk of cannabis in adolescents often correlate with lower levels of current use and intention to use in the future. Further study and implementation of public health and clinically-oriented strategies that seek to increase knowledge among youth about the potential health harms of cannabis use should continue and be prioritized.

State-Level Recreational Cannabis Legalization Is Not Differentially Associated with Cannabis Risk Perception Among Children: A Multilevel Regression Analysis

Introduction: As more states pass recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) for adults, there is concern that increasing (and state-sanctioned) cannabis acceptance will result in a reduced perception of risk of harm from cannabis among children. We aimed to discover whether children in states with RCLs had decreased perception of risk from cannabis compared with children in states with illicit cannabis. Methods: We analyzed data from the multisite multistate Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study to determine how the perception of cannabis harm among children (age at baseline: 9-10; N=10,395) changes over time in states with and without RCLs. Using multilevel modeling, we assessed survey responses from children longitudinally across 3 years, adjusting for state-, family-, and participant-level clustering and child-level factors, including demographics (sex, race, and socioeconomic status), religiosity, and trait impulsivity. Results: There was no significant main effect of state RCLs on perceived risk of cannabis use, and no differences in change over time by state RCLs, even after controlling for demographic factors and other risk (e.g., impulsivity) and protective (e.g., religiosity) factors. Conclusions: This analysis indicates that state-level RCLs are not associated with differential perception of cannabis risk among children, even after controlling for demographics, trait impulsivity, and religiosity. Future studies could assess how perception of risk from cannabis changes as children and adolescents continue to mature in states with and without RCLs.

The influence of parent and peer disapproval on youth marijuana use mediated by youth risk perception: Focusing on the state comparison

BACKGROUND

The prevention of youth marijuana use has become a national priority in the United States. This study examined the influence of parent and peer disapproval on youth marijuana use, mediated by youth risk perception. Because the legal status of marijuana use can influence individual perceptions of the drug, this study investigated differences in the mediating mechanism between youth living in states with medical marijuana legalization (MML) and those living in non-MML states.

METHODS

The 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health was used with a youth population aged 12-17 years (N = 2293). Structural equation modeling and bias-corrected bootstrapping were used to examine hypothesized path models and to evaluate the mediating effect of youth risk perception.

RESULT

Findings demonstrated that parent and peer disapproval significantly increased youth risk perception of marijuana and reduced youth marijuana use. Second, youth risk perception significantly mediated the association between parent and peer disapproval and youth marijuana use. Third, parent disapproval had a more significant direct effect on youth marijuana use, while peer disapproval had a more significant indirect effect on youth marijuana use via youth risk perception. Finally, the results showed a similar pattern in the mechanism between youths living in MML states compared with those in non-MML states in terms of significance and direction.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested a need for improvements in marijuana related policies for both MML and non-MML states. Moreover, parent and peer focused strategies for education and prevention concerning marijuana use among youth are emphasized.

Trends in cannabis or cocaine-related dependence and alcohol/drug treatment in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay

BACKGROUND

In the context of changing cannabis and other drug policy and regulation, concerns may arise regarding drug treatment access and use. We assessed cannabis/cocaine-related dependence and treatment in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.

METHODS

Nationally representative cross-sectional household surveys of people ages 15-64 in Argentina (4 surveys, 2006-2017), Chile (7 surveys, 2006-2018), and Uruguay (4 surveys, 2006-2018) were harmonized. We estimated weighted prevalences of cannabis or cocaine-related (cocaine or cocaine paste) dependence, based on meeting 3+ past-year ICD-10 dependence criteria. We estimated weighted prevalences of past-year alcohol/drug treatment use (Argentina, Chile) or use/seeking (Uruguay) among people with past-year cannabis/cocaine-related dependence. We tested model-based prevalence trends over time and described individual-level treatment correlates by country.

RESULTS

Cannabis/cocaine dependence prevalence increased in the region starting in 2010-2011, driven by cannabis dependence. Adjusted cannabis dependence prevalence increased from 0.7% in 2010 to 1.5% in 2017 in Argentina (aPD=0.8, 95% CI= 0.3, 1.2), from 0.8% in 2010 to 2.8% in 2018 in Chile (aPD=2.0, 95% CI= 1.4, 2.6), and from 1.4% in 2011 to 2.4% in 2018 in Uruguay (aPD=0.9, 95% CI= 0.2, 1.6). Cocaine-related dependence increased in Uruguay, decreased in Argentina, and remained stable in Chile. Among people with past-year cannabis/cocaine dependence, average alcohol/drug treatment use prevalence was 15.3% in Argentina and 6.0% in Chile, while treatment use/seeking was 14.7% in Uruguay. Alcohol/drug treatment prevalence was lower among people with cannabis dependence than cocaine-related dependence. Treatment correlates included older ages in all countries and male sex in Argentina only.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol/drug treatment use among people with cannabis/cocaine-related dependence remained low, signaling an ongoing treatment gap in the context of growing cannabis dependence prevalence in the region. Additional resources may be needed to increase treatment access and uptake. Future studies should assess contributors of low treatment use, including perceived need, stigma, and service availability.

Trends in the sequence of initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among adolescents in Argentina and Chile from 2001 to 2017

BACKGROUND

Variation in drug policies, norms, and substance use over time and across countries may affect the normative sequences of adolescent substance use initiation. We estimated relative and absolute time-varying associations between prior alcohol and tobacco use and adolescent marijuana initiation in Argentina and Chile. Relative measures quantify the magnitude of the associations, whereas absolute measures quantify excess risk.

METHODS

We analyzed repeated, cross-sectional survey data from the National Surveys on Drug Use Among Secondary School Students in Argentina (2001-2014) and Chile (2001-2017). Participants included 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students (N = 680,156). Linear regression models described trends over time in the average age of first use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Logistic regression models were used to estimate time-varying risk ratios and risk differences of the associations between prior alcohol and tobacco use and current-year marijuana initiation.

RESULTS

Average age of marijuana initiation increased and then decreased in Argentina and declined in Chile. In both countries, the relative associations between prior tobacco use and marijuana initiation weakened amid declining rates of tobacco use; e.g., in Argentina, the risk ratio was 19.9 (95% CI: 9.0-30.8) in 2001 and 11.6 (95% CI: 9.0-13.2) in 2014. The relative association between prior alcohol use and marijuana initiation weakened Chile, but not in Argentina. On the contrary, risk differences (RD) increased substantially across both relationships and countries, e.g., in Argentina, the RD for tobacco was 3% (95% CI: 0.02-0.03) in 2001 and 12% (95% CI: 0.11-0.13) in 2014.

CONCLUSION

Diverging trends in risk ratios and risk differences highlight the utility of examining multiple measures of association. Variation in the strength of the associations over time and place suggests the influence of environmental factors. Increasing risk differences indicate alcohol and tobacco use may be important targets for interventions to reduce adolescent marijuana use.

Effects of Risk Perception and Accessibility on Cannabis Use among Young Population in Spain: Findings from the 2016 National Survey (ESTUDES)

BackgroundCannabis use in the young population has undergone a significant increase in Europe. Empirical assessments of individual and contextual mediating variables in relation to cannabis use are informative for prevention actions and have yet to be conducted in Spain. Objectives: This study used the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain (ESTUDES) to inform on potentially relevant cannabis prevention targets. We examined individual variables (sex, age, and cannabis risk perception), past 30-day legal and illicit substance use, substance-free activities, and contextual factors (perceived accessibility to cannabis) associated to past 30-day cannabis use. Methods: Data were drawn from 35,369 adolescents (% females: 50.1). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was implemented to identify predictors of cannabis use, and indirect paths were tested via bootstrapping to examine the mediating effects of cannabis risk perception and accessibility. Results: Demographics (male sex, higher age), and past 30-day tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use were associated with past 30-day cannabis use. Frequency of past-year engagement in hobbies and reading did also predict past 30-day cannabis use. The mediators worked on most of the relationships examined, except for hobbies and illegal substance use in the case of accessibility and reading and hobbies in the case of risk perception. Conclusions/importance: Cannabis use is more likely to emerge in the event of low risk perception and high accessibility. Lower frequency of past year reading and higher engagement in some hobbies that are often carried out alone represent risk factors, which could potentially influence prevention programs.

Age-varying time trends in cannabis- and alcohol-related risk perceptions 2002-2019

BACKGROUND

Alcohol- and cannabis-related risk perceptions are strong predictors of use behavior. Studies suggest that attitudes toward cannabis are becoming increasingly permissive, however studies have yet to comprehensively a) compare time trends in cannabis-related attitudes to those of other commonly used substances, such as alcohol, and b) test whether trends significantly differ by age.

METHOD

Public access data from the National Study on Drug Use and Health from 2002 to 2019 were used (N = 1,005,421). Structural Equation Models tested whether study year (linear trend), was associated with alcohol- and cannabis-related risk perceptions (correlated outcomes), and whether age (adolescence [12-17], emerging adulthood [18-25], adulthood [26-35], middle adulthood [36-49], and older adulthood [50+]) moderated time trends. Sex, race/ethnicity, and use frequency were covaried.

RESULTS

The linear trend of study year was associated with decreased cannabis-related risk perceptions (p < .001). There was also a significant interaction of age by study year for cannabis-related risk perceptions, such that adults, emerging adults, and middle adults had the largest decrease in attitudes over time. For alcohol-related risk perceptions, the linear trend of study year was significantly associated with increased risk perceptions (p = .001), but the interaction of time by age was non-significant; alcohol-related effects were extremely small (b < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that cannabis-related risk perceptions are becoming more permissive with time across ages, but particularly in adults, emerging adults, and middle adults. In contrast, alcohol-related risk perceptions have stayed relatively stable over time, with only negligible increases. Findings underscore the importance of targeting permissive cannabis-related attitudes via prevention efforts.

Factors Associated with Simultaneous or Concurrent Use of Alcohol and Marijuana in Argentina

Background: The identification of factors promoting simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is important to promote early intervention efforts. The associations between impulsivity facets and SAM (or concurrent alcohol and marijuana, CAM) use have been analyzed in North American samples. These topics, however, remain unexplored in South American samples. This study assessed if internalizing symptoms, five impulsivity dimensions, and emotional regulation strategies differentiate between participants who reported last 2-month SAM use, CAM use, alcohol, or marijuana only use, or that reported no substance use. Methods: A sample of 1057 Argentinian citizens answered an online survey. A multinominal logistic regression was conducted on drug use membership. Results: Circa 25% of the sample reported SAM use. Higher sensation seeking differentiated between SAM use versus no substance use, and those with lower sensation seeking were more likely to be classified into the alcohol-only group or into the nonuse group, than into the SAM use group. Stress scores uniquely predicted membership into the alcohol-only category. Those with lower use of emotional suppression were more likely than nonusers to be classified in all drug use categories, except CAM use. Higher emotional suppression scores were associated with membership into the nonuse group or the alcohol-only group, when compared to the SAM use group. Hazardous drinking was significantly greater in SAM than in alcohol-only users. Conclusions: The study highlights the relevance of sensation seeking as a predictor of SAM use and pinpoints emotional suppression as common factor modulating hazardous drug use behaviors.

Young adult concurrent use and simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana: A cross-national examination among college students in seven countries

Introduction

Many young adults report frequent co-use of alcohol and marijuana, with some individuals engaging in simultaneous use (SAM; use of both substances within the same occasion resulting in an overlap of their effects) and others in concurrent use (CAM; use of both substances during a similar time period [e.g., past 30 days] but not within the same occasion). Emerging work demonstrates that SAM relative to CAM use places individuals at a greater risk for substance-related harms; however, these results primarily rely on U.S. samples. The goal of the present multi-country study was to examine prevalence rates of CAM and SAM use and examine differences in past 30-day SAM/CAM use on alcohol/marijuana substance-related outcomes among college students from seven countries.

Methods

A total of 9171 (70.5% women; Mean age = 20.28, SD = 3.96) college students participated in the cross-sectional online survey study.

Results

Among students who endorsed use of both alcohol and marijuana in the past 30-days (n = 2124), SAM use (75.8%) was far more prevalent than CAM use (24.2%). Moreover, ∼75% of students endorsed SAM use within each country subsample. Regression models showed that SAM vs. CAM use was associated with greater alcohol and marijuana use and negative consequences.

Conclusions

College students from around the world endorse high rates of SAM use, and this pattern of co-use is associated with greater frequency of use and substance-related harms. On college campuses, SAM use should be a target of clinical prevention/intervention efforts and the mechanisms underpinning the unique harms of SAM need to be clarified.

Factores que diferencian el consumo frecuente y esporádico de marihuana en estudiantes universitarios

Aunque el consumo de marihuana es altamente prevalente entre universitarios de Argentina, poco se sabe respecto a los factores que permiten distinguir a los consumidores frecuentes de marihuana de quienes consumen esporádicamente. Por esta razón, en el presente trabajo se indagó sobre las posibles variaciones en los contextos de consumo, motivos de consumo, normas percibidas y estrategias conductuales de protección entre universitarios con consumo frecuente o esporádico de marihuana, y se analizó la utilidad de este conjunto de variables para distinguir entre estos los tipos de consumidores mencionados. Para ello, se contó con una muestra de 1083 estudiantes universitarios argentinos que completó una encuesta en línea sobre el consumo de sustancias. En particular, este trabajo se realizó con la submuestra que reportó consumir marihuana en los últimos 30 días (n = 158; 51.3 % mujeres). Dicha encuesta interrogaba sobre el consumo de marihuana y las consecuencias negativas asociadas, así como por motivos de consumo, normas sociales percibidas y estrategias conductuales de protección. Como resultado, los consumidores frecuentes presentaron mayor cantidad de consecuencias negativas (M = 4.92) que los consumidores esporádicos (M = 1.82; p ≤ .05), y se halló un perfil distintivo en un conjunto de variables. A nivel multivariado, los motivos de animación (or = 1.230; p ≤ .05), las estrategias conductuales de protección (or = .941; p ≤ .05), el consumo en solitario (or = 2.024; p ≤ .05) y el consumo en fiestas universitarias (or = 2.669; p ≤ .05) discriminaron significativamente entre ambas clases de consumidores. En general, los hallazgos revelaron subpoblaciones heterogéneas de consumidores de marihuana que difieren no solo en el consumo y sus consecuencias, sino también en los contextos de consumo y en un conjunto de variables relevantes. Estas subpoblaciones distintivas requieren de intervenciones diferentes y específicas.

Risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents: a systematic review

Background

Drug abuse is detrimental, and excessive drug usage is a worldwide problem. Drug usage typically begins during adolescence. Factors for drug abuse include a variety of protective and risk factors. Hence, this systematic review aimed to determine the risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents worldwide.

Methods

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was adopted for the review which utilized three main journal databases, namely PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science. Tobacco addiction and alcohol abuse were excluded in this review. Retrieved citations were screened, and the data were extracted based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria include the article being full text, published from the year 2016 until 2020 and provided via open access resource or subscribed to by the institution. Quality assessment was done using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools (MMAT) version 2018 to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, a descriptive synthesis of the included studies was undertaken.

Results

Out of 425 articles identified, 22 quantitative articles and one qualitative article were included in the final review. Both the risk and protective factors obtained were categorized into three main domains: individual, family, and community factors. The individual risk factors identified were traits of high impulsivity; rebelliousness; emotional regulation impairment, low religious, pain catastrophic, homework completeness, total screen time and alexithymia; the experience of maltreatment or a negative upbringing; having psychiatric disorders such as conduct problems and major depressive disorder; previous e-cigarette exposure; behavioral addiction; low-perceived risk; high-perceived drug accessibility; and high-attitude to use synthetic drugs. The familial risk factors were prenatal maternal smoking; poor maternal psychological control; low parental education; negligence; poor supervision; uncontrolled pocket money; and the presence of substance-using family members. One community risk factor reported was having peers who abuse drugs. The protective factors determined were individual traits of optimism; a high level of mindfulness; having social phobia; having strong beliefs against substance abuse; the desire to maintain one’s health; high paternal awareness of drug abuse; school connectedness; structured activity and having strong religious beliefs.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this review suggest a complex interaction between a multitude of factors influencing adolescent drug abuse. Therefore, successful adolescent drug abuse prevention programs will require extensive work at all levels of domains.

Age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use in Mexico

BACKGROUND

Over the previous two decades, the lifetime prevalence of cannabis use has risen among Mexico's population.

AIMS

Estimate the sex- and age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use over time.

DESIGN

Five nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the Mexican National Surveys of Addictions (1998, 2002, 2008, 2012) and the Mexican National Survey on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (2016).

SETTING

Mexico.

PARTICIPANTS

Pooled sample of 141,342 respondents aged between 12 and 65 years of which 43.6%(n = 61,658) are male and 56.4% (n = 79,684) are female.

MEASUREMENTS

We estimated the age-specific rates of onset of cannabis as the conditional rate of consuming cannabis for the first time at a specific age.

METHODS

Time-to-event flexible-parametric models with spline specifications of the hazard function. Stratified analysis by sex and control for temporal trends by year of data collection or decennial birth cohort.

FINDINGS

Age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals increased over time for females and males. Peak rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 ranged from 0.935 (95%CI = [0.772, 1.148]) in 1998, to 5.391 (95%CI = [4.924, 5.971]) in 2016 for females; and from 7.513 (95%CI = [6.732, 10.063]) in 1998, to 26.107 (95%CI = [25.918,30.654]) in 2016 for males. Across decennial birth-cohorts, peak rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals for females ranged from 0.234 (95%CI = [0.078, 0.768]) for those born in the 1930s, to 14.611 (95%CI = [13.243, 16.102]) for those born in the 1990s; and for males, from 4.086 (95%CI = [4.022, 7.857]) for those born in the 1930s, to 38.693 (95%CI = [24.847, 48.670]) for those born in the 1990s.

CONCLUSION

Rates of onset of cannabis increased over the previous two decades for both females and males but remained higher for males. Across recent cohorts, the rates of onset have increased at a faster rate among females than males.

Theoretical understanding of contextual motivations for sustained adolescent marijuana use in South Africa

Background

Although 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.

Aim

We 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).

Setting

The study was conducted in two illicit marijuana-growing communities in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Methods

Exploratory 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.

Results

Nine 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.

Conclusion

As 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.

Factors related to an increase of cannabis use among adolescents in Chile: National school based surveys between 2003 and 2017

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Cannabis use in adolescents has more than doubled between 2003 and 2017 in Chile.

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Exact prevalence of substance use and effect size of associated factors are given.

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Strongest prevalence factors were friends who use cannabis and low perceived risk.

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Association of low parental rejection with cannabis use has increased.

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Tobacco and alcohol use remained strongly associated with cannabis use in adolescents.

Background

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide. In Chile, the prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents is the highest in the Americas. Our aim was to identify prevalence trends of cannabis use and associated factors in adolescents.

Methods

We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses of 416,417 cross-sectional school-based surveys of adolescents from 8th to 12th grade conducted between 2003 and 2017 in Chile. Cannabis use was the dependent variable. Age, gender, socio-economic variables, and factors on the individual, school and family level were assessed as independent variables.

Results

The prevalence of cannabis use in the past year increased from 13.6% in 2003 to 31.3% in 2017 in a linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 27.6; R² = 0.79; p < 0.01). The strongest association with cannabis use was seen for having friends who regularly use cannabis, and low perceived risk of cannabis use. Between 2003 and 2017, the strength of association between the variable having friends who regularly use cannabis and cannabis use decreased from OR = 6.2 to OR = 2.9, in a significant linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 60.5; R² = 0.89; p < 0.01); whereas the OR for low parental rejection of cannabis use with cannabis use increased in a linear trend (F(df:1,6) = 22.8; R² = 0.75, p < 0.01) from OR = 1.2 to OR = 2.1.

Conclusions

Increasing cannabis use of adolescents in Chile requires adjustments of prevention strategies. Prevalence factors identified here constitute potential targets for interventions.

Evaluating the impacts of cannabis legalization: The International Cannabis Policy Study

An increasing number of jurisdictions have legalized non-medical cannabis use, including Canada in October 2018 and several US states starting in 2012. The policy measures implemented within these regulated markets differ with respect to product standards, labelling and warnings, public education, retail policies, marketing, and price/taxation. The International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS) seeks to evaluate the impacts of these policy measures as well as the broader population-level impact of cannabis legalization using a quasi-experimental research design. The objective of this paper is to describe the ICPS conceptual framework, methods, and baseline estimates of cannabis use. The ICPS is a prospective cohort survey conducted with national samples of 16-65-year-olds in Canada and the US. Data are collected via an online survey using the Nielsen Consumer Insights Global Panel. Primary survey domains include: prevalence and patterns of cannabis use; purchasing and price; consumption and product types; commercial retail environment; problematic use and risk behaviours; cannabis knowledge and risk perceptions; and policy-relevant outcomes including exposure to health warnings, public educational campaigns, and advertising and promotion. The first annual wave was conducted in Aug-Oct 2018 with 27,169 respondents in three geographic 'conditions': Canada (n = 10,057), US states that had legalized non-medical cannabis (n = 7,398) and US states in which non-medical cannabis was prohibited (n = 9,714). The ICPS indicates substantial differences in cannabis use in jurisdictions with different regulatory frameworks for cannabis. Future waves of the study will examine changes over time in cannabis use and its effects associated with legalization in Canada and additional US states.

Sex differences in nonmedical prescription tranquilizer and stimulant use trends among secondary school students in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay

BACKGROUND

Little is known about recent nonmedical prescription tranquilizer and stimulant use trends in Latin America. We tested whether recent trends among students in three South American countries differed by sex over time.

METHODS

Three countries independently collected National School Students Survey on Drugs. Students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades were sampled in Argentina (2007-2014, N = 328,202), Chile (2007-2015, N = 136,379), and Uruguay (2007-2016, N = 32,371). Weighted linear regression models predicted the prevalences and trends over time of past-year nonmedical tranquilizer and stimulant use by country, and tested whether trends differed by sex, adjusting for school type and grade.

RESULTS

In Argentina from 2007 to 2014, past-year nonmedical prescription tranquilizer (girls: 2.8 to 2.6%, boys: 2.5 to 2.3%) and stimulant (girls: 1.7 to 1.3%, boys: 1.9 to 1.5%) use trends did not differ by sex. In Chile from 2007 to 2015, nonmedical prescription tranquilizer use trends significantly differed comparing girls (3.9 to 10%) with boys (3.2 to 6.9%); stimulant use trends did not differ comparing girls (1.6 to 2.0%) with boys (2.0 to 1.3%). In Uruguay from 2007 to 2014 and 2014-2016, past-year nonmedical prescription tranquilizer (girls: 5.1 to 6.6%; boys: 2.8 to 4.2%) and stimulant (girls: 1.8 to 0.7%; boys: 1.8 to 0.7%) use trends did not differ by sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Trends of nonmedical prescription tranquilizer use recently increased in Chile and Uruguay, widening by sex over time in Chile only. The drivers of increasing tranquilizer use among girls in Chile and Uruguay merit further investigation.