184335 Role of perceived risk of marijuana use in the relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana by adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Mian B. Hossain, PhD , Biostatistics, School of Community Health and Policy, Baltimore, MD
Eduardo Velasco, PhD , School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Shafi Ahmad, PhD , Department of Economics, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
LaKaisha T. Yarber, MS, CHES , School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Background: According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the rate of current marijuana use among youths aged 12-17 was 6.7% in 2006. About half (50.1%) of youths aged 12-17 reported in 2006 that it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” for them to obtain marijuana if they wanted some. It is well understood that there is positive association between perceived availability and the use of marijuana. The adolescents 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. One factor that may influence whether youths will use illicit drugs is the extent to which youths believe these substances might cause them harm. Objective: This research examines the role of perceived risk associated with marijuana use in the relationship between perceived availability and the use of marijuana by adolescents. Data: This study uses data from NSDUH collected in 2006. The NSDUH includes questions for youths aged 12 to 17 about a number of risk and protective factors that may affect the likelihood that they will engage in substance use. Multiple Logistic regression models are estimated to assess the role of perceived risk in the relationship between perceived availability and the use of marijuana. Results: Results from logistic regression analyses show that past year marijuana use is lower among adolescents who perceived marijuana is “very easy to get” and who perceived marijuana is a “great risk” for their health.

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 12-17 Understand the level of perceived availability of marijuana among youths aged 12-17 Understand the role of perceived risk of using marijuana in the relationship between perceived availability and use of marijuana among youths aged 12-17 Understand that this research has policy implications, which might result in reducing marijuana use by adolescents aged 12-17.

Keywords: Marijuana, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a professional statistician and have been analyzing NSDUH data for last five years in the areas of marijuana use and presenting results at the APHA Annual Meetings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.