title: Cannabis use and mental health in secondary school children. Findings from a Dutch survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cannabis use is associated with mental health problems, and young people in particular are at risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between cannabis use and mental health in adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 5551 adolescents aged 12-16 years were drawn from the Dutch Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children school survey, carried out aspart of the international 2001 World Health Organization project.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for confounding factors, cannabis use was linked to externalising problems (delinquent and aggressive behaviour) but not to internalising problems (withdrawn behaviour, somatic complaints and depression). An increasing frequency of use resulted in stronger links. No significant gender or age by cannabis interaction effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a country with a liberal drug policy like The Netherlands, cannabis use is associated with aggression and delinquency, just as in other countries. Cannabis use was not associated with internalising problems. Alcohol use and regular smoking were strong confounding factors.
authors.affiliation: Trimbos Institute, PO Box 725, 3500 AS, Utrecht, The Netherlands. kmonshouwer@trimbos.nl
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monshouwer
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: VAN Dorsselaer
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verdurmen
authors.forename: Tom Ter
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Bogt
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DE Graaf
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vollebergh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology