title: Attitudes and perceived risk of cannabis use in Irish adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the developed world and its use is associated with several adverse physical and mental health effects and negative social outcomes. Earlier use of cannabis increases the risk of adverse effects. Attitudes and perceived risk towards drugs are regarded as strong influences in determining whether or not a person uses cannabis, but there is little existing research on Irish teenagers' attitudes to the risks of this drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a structured, anonymous questionnaire. The study was undertaken in nine public and private secondary schools in Cork City and suburbs. Students aged 15-18 and in fourth, fifth or sixth year of school were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 507 participating students, 39.3 % (n = 199) reported previous cannabis use. There were significantly lower levels of perceived risk of cannabis among those who had used the drug compared with those who had not, for all categories of risk (p < 0.01). Attitudes towards cannabis were more liberal among males and those with previous use of the drug. A minority of students (n = 92; 18.2 %) support legalisation of cannabis. The majority of teenagers (n = 382; 75.8 %) believe that they are not given enough information about the drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabis use is very widespread among teenagers in Cork. There are relatively low levels of perceived risk of mental and physical health problems with use of the drug. Attitudes towards cannabis are associated with personal use of the drug and gender.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. peterbarrett1@hotmail.com.|Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge University, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, England, UK. peterbarrett1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002188:Cannabis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescents; Attitudes; Cannabis; Ireland; Marijuana; Risk; Teenagers