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Online Program

330874
Relationship between Social Activity Involvement and Marijuana Use in the Past Year among Adolescents 12 to 17 years old in the United States


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 8:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

Jacqueline Watkins, MSPH, School of Community Health & Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
India Johns, MSW, School of Community Health & Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Mian B. Hossain, PhD, School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 7.2 percent of adolescents 12 to 17 years old are current users of marijuana.  Research indicates adolescents who participate in social activities are less likely to engage in risky behaviors compared to adolescents who do not participate in social activities. To further investigate this public health concern, the objective of this research study is to assess the relationship between social activity involvement and marijuana use in the past year among adolescents in the United States.

Methods: Secondary data from the 2013 National Survey on Drug and Health was used to conduct bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis.  We adjusted for gender, age, race, and income. We calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all comparisons.  The Chi squared (X2) test was used to compare proportions.

Results: The main finding indicates there is a significant relationship between marijuana use and social activity involvement in the past year among adolescents 12 to 17 years old (p<0.001). Adolescents with low social activity involvement were almost twice as likely (OR= 1.97; 95% CI= 1.71,2.27) to use marijuana in the past year compared to adolescents with high social activity involvement. 

Conclusion: Findings indicate low social activity involvement and marijuana use in the past year are significantly related. Therefore, it is recommended health policies be implemented to allot funding for social activity programs for adolescents 12 to 17 years old, especially school and community based programs.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the relationship between social activity involvement and marijuana use in the past year among adolescents 12 to 17 years old in the United States. Identify the type of social activity involvement highly utilized in the past year among adolescents 12 to 17 years old in the United States.

Keyword(s): Adolescents, Drug Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator of several research studies designed to focus on drug use, social activity involvement, and depression among adolescents 12 to 17 years old in the United States. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies to prevent drug use among adolescents especially those who reside in low income or underserved communities.
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.

Back to: 4004.0: Marijuana and youth: risks, consequences, and impact