Marijuana use and high-risk health behaviors among diverse college students post- legalization of recreational marijuana use

S.. Knowledge, Attitude, and Expectancies Related to Cannabis Use: A Cross-sectional Community Study Among College Students from Bangalore, Karnataka

Background

Cannabis use among youth is increasing; this study aimed to assess college students' knowledge, attitude, and expectancies toward cannabis use.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey using standardized tools among undergraduate and postgraduate college students in urban Bangalore, India (N = 405).

Results

Ten percent reported past three-month cannabis use, with 1% reporting daily use. Users were significantly older (median age 21, IQR 22,20 [vs. 20, IQR 21,19], p < .001) and belonged to families with higher monthly incomes (p = .02). Use was significantly higher among males than females (65.9% vs. 34.1%, p = .006) and postgraduate students than undergraduates (51.2% vs. 48%, p = .001). Users were also significantly more favorable toward cannabis use (median score 4, IQR 6,2 [vs. median 3, IQR 4,2], p = .005) and had more positive expectancies from use (median score 2, IQR 3,2 [vs. median 2, IQR 2,0], p = .001). Nearly 30% were unaware that cannabis can affect a person's ability to drive safely or that it can affect executive functions, including academic performance. Over one-third were unaware of the current legal status of cannabis in India. Overall, 36%, 25%, and 17%, respectively, said that cannabis use is safe when used for recreational purposes, cannabis should be legalized as it helps to relieve stress, and cannabis use among youngsters should be acceptable in society as it is "part of college life."

Conclusion

Findings build on existing literature on cannabis use among college youth in India, which can guide preventive interventions and policies for this vulnerable group.

Risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use among West Virginia college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use (DAMU) among West Virginia college students.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from West Virginia University between September and November 2022. The study sample was restricted to students who were ≥18 years of age; reported recently driving; possessed a current, valid driver's license from any US state; and were enrolled for at least one credit hour in the Fall 2022 semester.

RESULTS

Among respondents (N = 772), 28.9% reported DAMU. Students who had a GPA of B (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-4.42), smoked or ingested marijuana in the past year (AOR: 26.51, 95% CI: 10.27-68.39), drove after drinking (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.18-4.79), and used both marijuana and alcohol concurrently and then drove (AOR: 10.39, 95% CI: 2.32-46.54) associated with DAMU. Individuals who felt the behavior was somewhat dangerous or not dangerous or thought their peers approved of DAMU showed significant associations with DAMU.

CONCLUSIONS

As DAMU was prevalent, future interventions that raise awareness of the danger and potential consequences of DAMU may be needed to reduce this risky behavior on college campuses.

Analyzing risky behaviors among different minority and majority race in teenagers in the USA using latent classes

Objective: This study is to ascertain any inconsistencies in the trend of co-occurrence by sex of teenage health risk behavior patterns such as smoking, behaviors contributing to deliberate and unintentional injuries, risky sexual behavior, and sedentary lifestyle. Methods: The study's purpose was accomplished using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2013 data. A Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was conducted for the entire sample of teenagers as well as separately for each sex. Results: In this subset of youths, marijuana use was acknowledged by more than half of them, and smoking cigarettes was far more likely. More than half of the individuals in this subset engaged in risky sexual practices, like not using a condom during their most recent encounter. Males were split into three categories based on their involvement in risky behavior, while females were split into four subgroups. Conclusion: Regardless of gender, various risk behaviors among teenagers are connected. However, gender variations in the higher risk of particular trends, such as mood disorders and depression among females, underline the significance of creating treatments that take adolescent demographics into account.