Reasons High School Students Use Marijuana: Prevalence and Correlations With Use Across Four Decades

Exploring the relationship of rurality and region: An analysis of adolescent marijuana use in the United States

Marijuana use among adolescents and young adults has increased, however, there is a paucity of research concerning marijuana use among adolescents in rural areas. Current literature holds the assumption that adolescents in rural areas tend to use less marijuana and marijuana associated products compared with youth from urban and suburban areas. However, geographical features may contribute to unique stressors experienced by rural youth, resulting in distinct differences in usage that have been previously unexplored. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between rurality and geographic region by examining patterns of lifetime marijuana use in 12th graders across various geographical backgrounds. Using data from the Monitoring the Future Study database, participants were classified based on rurality (rural, medium suburban/urban, large suburban/urban) and geographic region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) and data was analyzed to investigate the differences in lifetime marijuana and hash usage. Results demonstrated that rural adolescents in the Northeast and West reported lifetime marijuana and hash product use at the same level as their urban/suburban counterparts; however, there were differences across rurality among Midwest and Southern regions. These results suggest that lifetime marijuana use among rural adolescents is not uniform across geographic regions, indicating that geography should be heavily considered when formulating preventative and educational marijuana programs.

Cannabis use motives and associations with personal and work characteristics among Canadian workers: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Research on cannabis use motives has focused on youth. Little is known about motives among working adults, including how work may play a role. This study aimed to describe cannabis use motives and their connection to work, and identify the personal and work correlates of work-related motives among a sample of workers.

METHODS

A national, cross-sectional sample of Canadian workers were queried about their cannabis use. Workers reporting past-year cannabis use (n = 589) were asked their motives for using cannabis and whether each motive was related to work or helped them manage at work (i.e., work-related). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations of personal and work characteristics with work-related cannabis use motives (no work-related motives, < 50% of motives work-related, ≥ 50% of motives work-related).

RESULTS

Use for relaxation (59.3%), enjoyment (47.2%), social reasons (35.3%), coping (35.1%), medical reasons (30.9%), and sleep (29.9%) were the most common motives. Almost 40% of respondents reported one or more of their cannabis use motives were work-related, with coping (19.9%) and relaxation (16.3%) most commonly reported as work-related. Younger age, poorer general health, greater job stress, having a supervisory role, and hazardous work were associated with increased odds of reporting at least some cannabis use motives to be work-related, while work schedule and greater frequency of alcohol use were associated with reduced odds of motives being primarily work-related.

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabis use motives among workers are diverse and frequently associated with work. Greater attention to the role of work in motivating cannabis use is warranted.

First semester college experiences: Associations with substance use and mental health

Introduction

Substance use (SU) and mental health (MH) concerns often occur as students transition from high school to college and may be associated with first semester experiences.

Methods

Incoming first-year college students at a U.S., predominantly white, midwestern university were recruited for an intervention study. Participants reported on substance use, mental health, and college experiences at the end of their first semester of college (n = 781; 62.9 % female, mean age = 18.06 [SD = 0.24]; 77.2 % non-Hispanic white; 84.6 % heterosexual). Data for these current analyses were cross-sectional.

Results

Identifying as Black, Indigenous, or another Person of Color, as a sexual minority, or as female was associated with more challenging first semester experiences. Social experiences that represent more social engagement were associated with greater substance use. College experiences reflecting an easier transition were associated with fewer mental health concerns. Alcohol use moderated the relation between academic challenges and mental health with stronger associations found at greater levels of alcohol use.

Conclusions

First semester experiences were related to student mental health and substance use, suggesting the importance of early, targeted support for students to adjust to campus life.

Trends in coping reasons for marijuana use among U.S. adolescents from 2016 to 2022

OBJECTIVE

This study examines historical trends in coping reasons for marijuana use among adolescents (1976-2022) and explores sociodemographic variations in recent years (2016-2022).

METHOD

Data from U.S. national samples of 12th grade adolescents in the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study were used to examine long-term trends (1976-2022, N = 43,237) and recent differences by sociodemographic characteristics (2016-2022, N = 3,816). Measures included marijuana use, coping reasons for use, and sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The most prevalent coping reason across time was "relax," endorsed by 52.9% of past 12-month users. Coping reasons mostly exhibited significant increases over time. Sociodemographic factors were associated with coping reasons. Females had higher odds of using marijuana to escape problems and get through the day (vs. males). Black respondents were more likely to use marijuana to get through the day, and Hispanic respondents were more likely to use to relax (vs. White respondents). Those with lower (vs. higher) parental education were more likely to use due to anger/frustration and to escape problems. Adolescents who used marijuana frequently (vs. less often) had higher odds of endorsing all coping reasons. There was no robust evidence of interactions between sociodemographic characteristics and year.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate a consistent increase in coping reasons for adolescent marijuana use over time, with variations based on sociodemographic characteristics. The findings highlight the importance of understanding subpopulations of adolescents who have higher risk of coping-related marijuana use.

Motives for Cannabis Use and Risky Decision Making Influence Cannabis Use Trajectories in Teens

The current study will examine the interactive effects of motives for cannabis use (i.e., health or recreational) and risky decision making (DM) on cannabis use trajectories among adolescents. Data from 171 adolescents, aged 14-17 at the initial visit (baseline), were prospectively analyzed across five time points approximately six months apart. Latent growth curve modeling and linear regression analyses were used. We found a significant interactive effect of "recreational motives" and risky DM on the rate of cannabis use over time. Specifically, among those less likely to use cannabis for recreational purposes, riskier DM was associated with a faster increase in the rate of use over time relative to those with lower risky DM. Additionally, a significant main effect showed that those with a greater proclivity to use cannabis for health purposes had higher initial levels of use at baseline and faster increases in the rate of use over time. Regardless of risky DM, using cannabis for health purposes is associated with faster increases in cannabis use escalation. Additionally, risky DM does impact the association between recreational motives for use and cannabis use trajectories. Future work should examine these associations with additional motives for cannabis use that have been previously validated within the literature.

Commentary on Han & Shi: The presence of recreational cannabis dispensaries and storefront marketing activities in residential neighborhoods-recent evidence for associations with individual cannabis use

Investigation into the effects of recreational cannabis dispensaries’ locations as well as point-of-sale marketing activities on cannabis use outcomes is critical for the development of effective surveillance measures and regulations.

Age- and Sex-Varying Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Substance Use from Modal Ages 35 to 55 in a National Sample of U.S. Adults

It is important to examine normative age-related change in substance use risk factors across the lifespan, with research focusing on middle adulthood particularly needed. The current study examined time-varying associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use from modal ages 35 to 55 in a national sample of US adults, overall and by sex. Data were obtained from 11,147 individuals in the longitudinal Monitoring the Future study. Participants were in 12th grade (modal age 18) in 1976-1982 and (for the data reported in this study) were surveyed again at modal ages 35 (in 1993-1999), 40, 45, 50, and 55 (in 2013-2019). Weighted time-varying effect modeling was used to examine age-related change in associations among depressive symptoms, any and heavy use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. Across midlife, greater depressive symptoms were associated with decreased odds of any alcohol use during the 40 s and 50 s, but with increased odds of binge drinking from ages 35-40, and-at most ages-any and pack + cigarette use and any and frequent marijuana use. The association between depressive symptoms and substance use was generally similar for men and women. Results highlight the increased risk for binge drinking, smoking, and marijuana with higher levels of depressive symptoms and underscore the importance of screening and interventions for depressive symptoms and substance use in midlife.

Early-onset smoking and vaping of cannabis: Prevalence, correlates and trends in New Zealand 14-15-year-olds

INTRODUCTION

Initiating cannabis use at an early age elevates risk of harm. Cannabis vaping is an emerging issue, and it is unknown whether the patterning and correlates of early-onset cannabis vaping differ from those of cannabis smoking.

METHODS

We used repeat cross-sectional data from a nationally representative biennial survey (2012-2018) of students aged 14-15 years in New Zealand (N = 11,405), response rate 65% (2012), 64% (2014-2016) and 59% (2018).

RESULTS

Between 2012 and 2018 lifetime cannabis use decreased, but regular use (past month, weekly, daily) was stable. Prevalence of past month, weekly and daily use in 2016-2018 (pooled) was 8.6%, 3.4% and 1.5%, respectively. Cannabis vaping was reported by 24% of past month cannabis users. The demographic profile of early-onset cannabis smokers and vapers was similar, with elevated use of both modes among Māori (Indigenous), same- or both-sex attracted students and those in low decile (high-deprivation) schools. Correlates were similar for both modes. Cannabis use was strongly associated with tobacco and alcohol use. The next strongest associations (after adjustment) were exposure to second-hand smoke at home, student income >$50/week and low parental monitoring of whereabouts. Past week social media use, psychological distress and low parental monitoring of spending were also associated with both modes.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Early-onset cannabis use is much higher in structurally disadvantaged groups, and among those who use tobacco and alcohol. Comprehensive multisubstance approaches to prevention are indicated in this age group. Efforts to reduce socio-economic inequity and exposure to other risk factors may reduce cannabis-related harm.

Increased nicotine vaping due to the COVID-19 pandemic among US young adults: Associations with nicotine dependence, vaping frequency, and reasons for use

Previous research has not examined increased vaping because of the pandemic using a national sample of young adults (YAs), which is a critical gap because pandemic-related increases in vaping among YAs could have important implications for nicotine dependence, prolonged regular use, and using substances to cope with stress. We examined self-reported increased vaping attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic among YAs, and its associations with outcomes that have important implications for future nicotine use. Data came from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) Vaping Supplement. Participants were selected from a nationally representative sample of US 12th-graders who were surveyed at age 19 in fall 2020 (N = 1244). Cross-sectional analyses of the 2020 survey included YAs who vaped nicotine in the past year (35%; N = 440). Weighted descriptive analyses and logistic regression models examined self-reported pandemic-related increased vaping (vs. decreased vaping, or no change), and its associations with current nicotine dependence, vaping behavior, and reasons for vaping. Among YAs who vaped nicotine in the past year, 16.8% reported increased and 44.4% reported decreased vaping due to the pandemic, while 38.9% reported no change. Increased vaping (vs. decreased and/or no change) was significantly associated with nicotine dependence symptoms, current regular nicotine vaping, and vaping to relax, get high, and because of boredom. Self-reported increased vaping because of the pandemic was associated with increased risk for current nicotine dependence and frequent use. Increased vaping may have been a form of coping with pandemic-related stressors, which increases risk for future substance use problems.

Characteristics and reasons for use associated with solitary alcohol and marijuana use among U.S. 12th Grade Students, 2015-2021

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding what sociodemographic characteristics and reasons for use are associated with adolescent solitary alcohol and marijuana use.

METHODS

Data from 7845 12th grade students participating in the nationally-representative Monitoring the Future study from 2015 to 2021 were used to examine cross-sectional associations between sociodemographics, heavy drinking/marijuana use, reasons for use, and past 12-month solitary alcohol or marijuana use among past 12-month users. Historical trends and possible differences related to the COVID-19 pandemic also were examined.

RESULTS

Solitary use prevalence increased from 2015 to 2021 with no evidence of significant COVID-19 deviations. In 2021, solitary alcohol use was reported by 32.1% (SE 3.01) and solitary marijuana use by 55.8% (4.72) of those reporting past 12-month use. Common and substance-specific sociodemographic risk factors were observed. Binge drinking was associated with solitary alcohol use; frequent marijuana use was associated with solitary marijuana use. Reasons for use related to coping with negative affect were associated with solitary use. Compulsive use reasons were more strongly associated with solitary alcohol than marijuana use. Drinking to have a good time with friends was negatively associated with solitary alcohol use but this association was not seen for solitary marijuana use.

CONCLUSIONS

The percentage of adolescents who use alcohol or marijuana when they were alone has increased among those who report using each substance. Associations between solitary use and (a) higher levels of consumption and (b) coping with negative affect highlight the importance of solitary use as a risk indicator.

Motives, Frequency, and Consequences of Cannabis Use Among College Students

We investigated profiles of cannabis use motives among current cannabis-consuming college students. Then we assessed profile differences in demographic characteristics, social contexts of use, regulatory environment, alcohol use, negative affect, negative consequences, and cannabis use. Participants ( N = 1, 213) were from three universities in states with different cannabis legislation. Six profiles emerged: Low Motives, Low to Moderate Enhance, High Enhance, High Enhance & Social + Moderate Expand, High Enhance & Cope, and High Motives. Profiles differed in social contexts of use, sex, alcohol use, negative affect, and regulatory environment. Profiles endorsing high and multiple motives had higher cannabis use and negative consequences, relative to profiles with low or fewer motives. Profiles characterized by high avoidance motives (i.e., coping) had the highest cannabis use and consequences. Interventions targeting types and intensity of motives for cannabis-use may help reduce use and related consequences among college students who use cannabis.

Using Substances to Cope With the COVID-19 Pandemic: U.S. National Data at Age 19 Years

PURPOSE

To examine predictors of using substances to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, including pandemic-related isolation, stress, economic hardship, demographics, and prepandemic substance use.

METHODS

A U.S. national sample (N = 1,244) was followed from the 12th grade in Spring 2019 to Fall 2020 (M = 19.6 years) when young adults were asked about their use of marijuana, vaping, drinking, and other drugs to cope.

RESULTS

In Fall 2020, 15.7% reported using marijuana, 8.9% increased vaping, and 8.2% increased drinking to cope with social distancing and isolation. In multivariable analyses controlling for demographics and prepandemic substance use, COVID-related isolation was associated with marijuana use (odds ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.63) and economic hardship with increased drinking (odds ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.92). There were few demographic differences. Most (>80%) who reported COVID-related substance use coping used that substance before pandemic.

DISCUSSION

Young people reported using substances to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if they reported prepandemic use.

VOICES: An efficacious trauma-informed, gender-responsive cannabis use intervention for justice and school-referred girls with lifetime substance use history

BACKGROUND

Girls have unique developmental pathways to substance use and justice system involvement, warranting gender-responsive intervention. We tested the efficacy of VOICES (a 12-session, weekly trauma-informed, gender-responsive substance use intervention) in reducing substance use and HIV/STI risk behaviors among justice- and school-referred girls.

METHODS

Participants were 113 girls (M_age = 15.7 years, SD = 1.4; 12 % White, 19 % Black, 15 % multi-racial; 42 % Latinx) with a history of substance use referred from juvenile justice (29 %) and school systems (71 %). Study assessments were completed at baseline, 3-, 6- and 9-months follow-up. Primary outcomes included substance use and HIV/STI risk behaviors; secondary outcomes included psychiatric symptoms (including posttraumatic stress) and delinquent acts. We hypothesized that girls randomized to the VOICES (n = 51) versus GirlHealth (attention control; n = 62) condition would report reduced alcohol, cannabis and other substance use, HIV/STI risk behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, and delinquent acts.

RESULTS

Girls randomized to VOICES reported significantly less cannabis use over 9-month follow-up relative to the control condition (time by intervention, p < .01), but there were no between group differences over time in HIV/STI risk behavior. Girls in both conditions reported fewer psychiatric symptoms and delinquent acts over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Data support the use of a trauma-informed, gender-responsive intervention to reduce cannabis use among girls with a substance use history and legal involvement; reducing cannabis use in this population has implications for preventing future justice involvement and improving public health outcomes for girls and young women, who are at disproportionate health and legal risk relative to their male counterparts.

Adolescent drug use before and during U.S. national COVID-19 social distancing policies

BACKGROUND

How adolescent substance use and perceived availability of substances have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic remain largely unknown. Substantial reduction in availability of substances would present a unique opportunity to consider the supply-side hypothesis that reductions in drug availability will lead to reductions in drug prevalence.

METHODS

Longitudinal data come from Monitoring the Future and are based on responses from 582 adolescents who were originally surveyed as part of a national sample of 12th grade students in early 2020, one month before social distancing policies began. They were surveyed again after social distancing policies were implemented, in the summer of 2020.

RESULTS

Perceived availability of marijuana and alcohol declined across the two survey waves at the largest levels ever recorded in the 46 years of the project, by an absolute 17 %, p < .01 and 24 %, p < .01, respectively. Despite these declines, prevalence levels did not significantly change across the two waves for marijuana use in the past 30 days or for binge drinking in the past two weeks. Perceived availability of vaping devices significantly declined, from 73 % to 63 %, as did nicotine vaping prevalence in the past 30 days, from 24 % to 17 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived availability of marijuana, alcohol, and vaping devices declined at historic rates during the pandemic of 2020. Lack of accompanying reductions in prevalence for marijuana and binge drinking demonstrates the substantial challenges facing a supply-side approach to the reduction of adolescent use of these substances.

Predictors of cannabis use among first-time justice-involved youth: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Justice-involved youth use cannabis at higher rates than their same-aged peers increasing likelihood of adverse behavioral health consequences and continued legal involvement. This study examined individual level predictors of early onset use cannabis use (<13 years of age) and cannabis use initiation in the 12 months following first court contact.

METHODS

Participants were 391 first-time justice-involved youth (56.9 % male; M_age = 14.6 years; 32.1 % White, 11.1 % Black, 14.7 % Other/Multi-racial, 42.2 % Latinx) and an involved caregiver (87.2 % female; M_age = 41.0 years). Baseline assessments captured individual level factors; cannabis use was assessed every four months post-baseline for 12 months. Primary analyses involved multivariable modified Poisson regressions and survival analysis.

RESULTS

In multivariable models, youth who reported lifetime cannabis use (n = 188, 48.1 %) were older, reported alcohol use and positive cannabis use expectancies. Greater self-control and self-concept were associated with lower likelihood of lifetime cannabis use. Youth who initiated cannabis during the 12-month follow-up (n = 30, 14.8 %) tended to be older, White/non-Latinx, and to report more psychiatric symptoms (posttraumatic stress, externalizing, internalizing, and affect dysregulation), delinquent behavior, lower levels of self-control, poorer self-concept, greater drug use intentions and positive cannabis expectancies. In the multivariable survival analysis, affect dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and more positive cannabis expectancies remained independently and positively associated with cannabis initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a critical and unique window of opportunity to prevent cannabis use initiation among first-time justice-involved youth. Research is needed to determine whether brief interventions that aim to modify expectancies about cannabis use reduce rates of cannabis initiation in this underserved population.

[Personality traits associated with the substance consumption in young people in a context of vulnerability]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the patterns of alcohol and cannabis consumption, and their associated factors, in young people aged 16 and 21 in a context of vulnerability.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study based on a pre-test questionnaire from an evaluation study, administered to a convenience sample of 365 young people from Social Guarantee Programs (SGP), or who attended activities of community entities from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Barcelona. Dependent variables were experimental, regular, and problematic alcohol and cannabis consumption, while independent variables were impulsivity, sensation seeking, expectations, and beliefs regarding drug use, social skills, and contextual variables. Associations were established using multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of intensive alcohol consumption (24.2% for binge drinking and 33.3% for binge drinking) and experimental (51.1%) and problematic cannabis use (12.9%) was higher in SGP students than entity youth. Likewise, they presented higher scores on the impulsivity scales, sensation seeking, expectations and beliefs favorable to alcohol consumption. In general, the prevalence of experimental alcohol consumption was higher in girls than in boys. Regular binge drinking was associated with intense sensations seeking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.01-1.12), while attending SGP was associated with problematic cannabis use (aOR: 2.73; 95%CI: 1.26-5.89). Positive expectations to alcohol and cannabis use were associated with problematic substance use.

CONCLUSION

Individual risk, linked to the higher risk trajectories of SGP students, is associated with a higher problematic consumption of alcohol and cannabis than in young people from community entities exposed to an environmental risk of high frequency of consumption.

Cannabis Use and Emotional Awareness Difficulties in Adolescents with Co-Occurring Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders

Background: Assessing predictors of cannabis use following adolescent substance use treatment may inform essential treatment elements to be emphasized before discharge. Adolescents with low emotional awareness may have limited resources for identifying and overcoming negative emotions, and therefore, use cannabis to regulate emotions. Purpose/objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that emotional awareness difficulties are associated with increased cannabis use across the transition out of substance use treatment. This hypothesis was investigated by applying an autoregressive random-intercept cross-lagged panel-modeling framework to test the fit of alternative models and inform hypotheses about directional associations between cannabis use and emotional awareness difficulties over time. Methods: Participants were 110 adolescents with co-occurring disorders and their families participating in an intensive home-based treatment trial. Adolescents reported on past 7-day cannabis use and difficulties in emotional awareness at baseline and three follow-up assessments across 12 months. Results: At baseline, 54% of the sample reported past-week cannabis use. A directional effect was supported such that difficulties with emotional awareness at 3 months' post-baseline, which corresponded to the approximate end of the treatment program, were associated with increased cannabis use at 6 months' post-baseline, controlling for the stability of cannabis use, and emotional awareness over time. Cannabis use, however, was not associated with subsequent difficulties in emotional awareness (i.e., effects in the opposite direction were not supported). Conclusions/Importance: Emotional awareness difficulties toward the end of a course of intensive outpatient treatment may be associated with increased cannabis use after the completion of treatment.

Engaging Youth (Adolescents and Young Adults) to Change Frequent Marijuana Use: Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) in Primary Care

PURPOSE

To characterize information elicited from adolescent/young adults with frequent cannabis use in Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and determine whether differences exist across stages of change (SOC) for reducing use.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Primary care patients 15-24 years old using cannabis ≥3 times/week enrolled in a pilot randomized intervention trial. All youth were offered two 1-hour MET sessions. Content analysis was used to code and categorize main reasons for use, alternative behaviors, goals, values, pros and cons of change, and compared results between youth in Pre-Contemplation vs. Contemplation SOC.

RESULTS

Fifty-six youth completed MET session 1, 46 completed session 2. Most reported their main reason for use was related to emotional coping, negative feelings were a top-3 trigger, and distraction was an alternative way to meet their needs. Youth most frequently described progress in education or career/job as 1-year goals. More than half identified family as a very important value. They most frequently reported pros of using less related to achieving goals, self-improving, and saving money, and a con related to stress/coping. Compared to youth in Pre-Contemplation SOC, those in Contemplation were more likely to identify relationships as both a pro and con of using less cannabis.

CONCLUSIONS

MET can reveal developmentally appropriate goals, healthy values, and ambivalence about cannabis use that can be used to facilitate movement along the stages of behavior change toward reduction/cessation.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Brief motivational therapy can be used in primary care to gather information important in helping youth to reduce cannabis use.