Adolescents' self-defined tobacco use status, marijuana use, and tobacco dependence.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in tobacco use and dependence between adolescents who are and are not marijuana users.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of existing survey data.


METHODS
Data were obtained from 7440 adolescents who completed the British Columbia Youth Survey of Smoking and Health II (BCYSOSH-II), a school based survey conducted in 2004.


METHODS
Responses to demographic, current smoking, alcohol use, self-defined tobacco and marijuana use status questions, perceived physical and mental addiction to tobacco, modified-Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (M-FTQ), and the Dimensions of Tobacco Dependence Scale (DTDS) were obtained.


RESULTS
Marijuana users were 5.9 times more likely to be current tobacco smokers and reported higher levels of perceived addiction to tobacco as compared with marijuana non-users. After controlling for demographics, life-time tobacco use, and alcohol use, marijuana use was associated with the nicotine dependent and sensory dimensions of tobacco dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents who concurrently use tobacco and marijuana may be more tobacco dependent than are marijuana non-users. Concurrent use of marijuana may be a factor associated with tobacco dependence among a sub-group of concomitant drug-using adolescents.
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, 302-6190 Agronomy Rd, Vancouver, Canada BC V6T 1Z3. Electronic address: chizimuzo.okoli@nursing.ubc.ca.
Chizimuzo T C
CTC
Okoli
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, 302-6190 Agronomy Rd, Vancouver, Canada BC V6T 1Z3.
Chris G
CG
Richardson
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, 302-6190 Agronomy Rd, Vancouver, Canada BC V6T 1Z3.
Pamela A
PA
Ratner
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, 302-6190 Agronomy Rd, Vancouver, Canada BC V6T 1Z3.
Joy L
JL
Johnson
D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012572:School Health Services; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*