title: Sex and grade level differences in marijuana use among youth.
abstract: A total of 54,361 students in seventh through twelfth grades completed a survey examining the impact of perceived harm of marijuana use, ease of access in obtaining marijuana, and perceived parent/peer disapproval of marijuana use on youth involvement in annual and recent marijuana use. Results indicated that 1 in 6 (16%) students used marijuana in the past year, while 1 in 10 (10%) used marijuana in the past month. Students at highest risk for marijuana use were those who felt use was not harmful/somewhat harmful, felt it was easy/very easy to access marijuana, and had parents/peers who did not disapprove of use. Findings can assist prevention specialists to more thoroughly understand how perceived harm, ease of access, and parent/peer disapproval affect marijuana use among youth. Consistent parent-child communication on marijuana use should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion & Education Program, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0068, USA. keith.king@uc.edu
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vidourek
authors.forename: Ashlee R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D009820:Ohio; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012737:Sex Factors; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids