Risk and protective factors for cannabis use in adolescence: a population-based survey in schools

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in Ireland and globally. It is most likely to be used in adolescence, a period of biopsychosocial vulnerability to maladaptive behaviours. This study aims to investigate the risk and protective factors for cannabis use among adolescents.

This study is a secondary analysis of the cross-sectional Planet Youth survey (2021). The sample comprised 4,404 adolescents aged 15-16 from one urban and two rural areas in Ireland. The outcome of interest was current cannabis use, defined as cannabis use within the last 30 days. Independent variables i.e., risk and protective factors, were selected a priori following a literature review. Associations between cannabis use and the independent variables were explored using mixed-effects logistic regressions.

The prevalence of current cannabis use was 7.3% and did not differ significantly between males and females. In fully-adjusted models, significant risk factors for cannabis use were: Having peers that used cannabis (Adjusted Odds Ration (aOR) 10.17, 95% CI: 5.96-17.35); Parental ambivalence towards cannabis use (aOR 3.69, 95% CI: 2.41-5.66); Perception of cannabis as non-harmful (aOR 2.32,95% CI 1.56-£.45): Other substance use (aORs ranging from 2-67-3.15); Peer pressure to use cannabis (aOR 1.85,95% CI 1.05-3.26), and Low parental supervision (aOR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.22).

This study identified key individual, peer-to-peer and parental risk factors associated with adolescent cannabis use, several of which have the potential to be modified through drug prevention strategies.