Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109006

Mohammad R. Torabi, PhD, MPH¹, Mi Kyung Jun, PhD, MPH², E. Lisako Jones-McKyer, PhD, MPH², and Kele Ding, PhD³. (1) Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER Building Room 116, 1025 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-7109, 812 855-3627, torabi@indiana.edu, (2) Indiana Prevention Resource Center, Indiana University, Creative Arts Building Room 110, 2735 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408, (3) Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Idaho State University, Reed Gym 105 Box 8109, Pocatello, ID 83201

INTRODUCTION: Marijuana use among adolescents has been a critical health problem in the nation. National data show that the trend of marijuana use among adolescents either remains steady or decreases gradually. In Indiana, there have been enormous prevention efforts concerning illicit drug use including marijuana by adolescents. One effort has been to establish an annual survey system that monitors the prevalence of marijuana use throughout the state. The purpose of this study was to examine whether marijuana use among Indiana adolescents changed since the early 1990's. METHODS: Data were collected using a self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaire asking lifetime, annual and monthly use of marijuana from 1993 to 2004. Each year, more than 30,000 6th through 12th grade students completed the survey. RESULTS: Bilinear period effects, first increasing then decreasing, were found for lifetime, annual and monthly use of marijuana throughout all grade levels. However, the lifetime, annual and monthly prevalence rates of marijuana use increased when compared to the early 1990's. The age of first time marijuana use remained steady with about 35% of students reporting first time use between age 14 and 15. Also, more than 40% of students used marijuana for the first time before age 14. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that marijuana use among adolescents in Indiana was decreasing. However, considering the high rate of use, particularly substantial levels of use extending down to the 6th grade and the young age of first time use, efforts should be made to provide early prevention interventions targeting young adolescents.

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