Impact of Environmental Factors on Marijuana Use in European Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Iva Pejnović Franelić, Marina Kuzman, Ivana Pavić Šimetin, Josipa Kern
Primary Institution: Croatian National Institute of Public Health
Hypothesis
The study investigates the association between environmental factors and marijuana use among high school students in 11 European countries.
Conclusion
Marijuana use among adolescents is influenced more by peer group and perceived availability than by parental control and family structure.
Supporting Evidence
- Daily tobacco smoking was strongly associated with lifetime marijuana use for boys in 7 countries.
- Perceived marijuana availability was associated with frequent marijuana use for boys in 4 countries.
- Perceived use of marijuana among friends was associated with early marijuana use in 8 countries for boys.
Takeaway
The more friends use marijuana and the easier it is to get, the more likely kids are to use it too.
Methodology
Self-reported data from the 2003 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.
Limitations
The study is limited to self-reported data and may not capture all influencing factors.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 15-16 years old high school students from 11 European countries.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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