Role of parental involvement in the relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana among youths aged 12 to 17 years of age in the United States

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

5153.0: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 3:42 PM

Abstract #163772

Mian B. Hossain, PhD, Biostatistics, School of Community Health and Policy, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Portage Building Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21251, 443-885-4132, mbhossain@moac.morgan.edu

According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the rate of current marijuana use among youths aged 12-17 was 6.8% in 2005. Over half (51%) of youths aged 12-17 reported in 2005 that it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” for them to obtain marijuana if they wanted some. There is positive association between perceived availability and use of marijuana. The youths aged 12-17 who perceived marijuana is fairly or very easy to get they are more likely to use marijuana compared to those who perceived marijuana is difficult to get. A majority of youths 90.2% reported that their parents would strongly disapprove of their trying marijuana. This research examines the role of parental involvement in the relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana. This study uses data from NSDUH collected in 2005. In NSDUH-2005 survey, youths aged 12-17 were also asked a number of questions related to the extent of support, oversight, and control that they perceived their parents exercised over them in the year prior to the survey. Multivariate Logistic regression models were used to assess the role of parental involvement in the relationship between perceived availability and the use of marijuana. Results show that past month use of marijuana is lower among youths aged 12-17 who reported that their parents always or sometimes engaged in monitoring behaviors than among youths whose parents “seldom” or “never” engaged in such behaviors in the presence of perceived availability of marijuana.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, each participant in this session will be able to

Understand the level of marijuana use among youths aged 12-1
Understand the level of perceived availability of marijuana among youths aged 12-1
Understand the role of relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana among youths aged 12-1
Understand the role of parental involvement in the relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana among youths aged 12-17.

Keywords: Marijuana, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Youth Substance Abuse Trends

The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA