A study published last month in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine identified 5 risk factors and 3 protective factors for adolescent marijuana use. The study, based on the 2021 Planet Youth survey, drew on a sample of 4,404 15–16-year-olds in Ireland.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the use of other substances was a risk factor for the use of marijuana. The study found that current alcohol users were nearly 3 times as likely to be current marijuana users (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.67). Current cigarette users were 3 times as likely to report current marijuana use (aOR 3.15), while current e-cigarette users were nearly 3 times as likely to be current marijuana users (aOR 2.73). Current use was defined as use in the past 30 days.
It also found that “those who reported that their friends used cannabis had a 10-fold increased odds of cannabis use themselves compared to those that did not” (aOR 10.11). Those who thought it was necessary to use marijuana to fit in with their friends were nearly 2 times as likely to be current marijuana users as those who did not think it was necessary (aOR 1.85).
The study identified parents as protective factors against marijuana use. Adolescents who thought their parents were ambivalent about their marijuana use were nearly 4 times as likely to be current marijuana users as adolescents who thought their parents strongly opposed it (aOR 3.69). Low parental supervision was also significantly associated with current marijuana use (aOR 1.11).
Additionally, the recognition of the harms of marijuana was a protective factor against marijuana use––this should be intuitive to most readers, as it is unlikely that someone will intentionally harm themself. Adolescents who did not perceive marijuana as being harmful were more than 2 times as likely to be current marijuana users as those who did perceive it as harmful (aOR 2.32).
The authors noted that the association between parental attitudes and adolescent marijuana use “is a very significant finding as it is a readily modifiable risk factor that may be targeted with prevention initiatives.” They explained that “strengthening parental supervision was a key element implemented in Iceland as part of their drug prevention model.” For example, parents “mutually agreed not to allow substance use in their homes, to prevent unsupervised parties, and to increase parental monitoring and the amount of time they spend with their children each week.”
Parents play a vital role in discouraging their children from using substances, including marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco. To learn more about best practices for parents, as well as to find support for parents whose children are currently struggling with substance misuse, please connect with SAM’s Parent Action Network by emailing [email protected].
