Correlates of Marijuana use in African American youth Living in Public Housing

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 74% of current illicit drug users use marijuana with 55% using marijuana exclusively. Of the 2.1 million Americans who used marijuana for the first time in 2005, the majority was less than 18 years old. Inability to take on educational and psychological tasks because of the cognitive and psychological impairments resulting from marijuana use may affect an adolescent's ability to successfully transition from childhood to adulthood. Using a sample of 550 African American adolescents living in urban public housing, the purpose of this study is to assess how individual and peer factors are related to the annual prevalence of marijuana use. Forty eight percent of the sample reported having used marijuana before in their lives. The sample reported using marijuana one to two times in the last year. The regression model explained 39 percent of the variance in the annual prevalence of marijuana use. Results suggest that having ever used marijuana, intent to use marijuana as an adult, delinquent behavior and depressive symptoms were positively related to the annual prevalence of marijuana use. Results also indicate that the relationship between age and annual marijuana use depends on whether a youth has ever used marijuana. Interventions strategies are discussed.