06/11/2007 00:00:00
Teens Who Smoke Marijuana But Not Tobacco Are Different From Other
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A Swiss study suggests that teens who use only cannabis appear to
function better than those who also use tobacco, and are more socially
driven and have no more psychosocial problems than those who abstain
from both substances, according to a new report.
Cannabis or marijuana is the illegal drug most commonly used by youth,
according to background information in the article. Cannabis use is
associated with the use of other substances, including tobacco and
illegal drugs. "The gateway theory hypothesizes that the use of legal
drugs (tobacco and alcohol) is the previous step to cannabis
consumption," the authors write. "However, recent research also
indicates that cannabis use may precede or be simultaneous to tobacco
use and that, in fact, its use may reinforce cigarette smoking or lead
to nicotine addiction independently of smoking status."
J. C. Suris, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Lausanne,
Switzerland, analyzed data from a 2002 national survey of Swiss students
aged 16 to 20 years. A total of 5,263 students were included in the
analysis, including 455 who smoked marijuana only, 1,703 who smoked
marijuana and tobacco and 3,105 who abstained from both substances.
"Our findings in this nationally representative sample of adolescents
show that 6 percent of them use cannabis without having used tobacco and
that one-fifth of current cannabis users (21.1 percent) declare never
having used tobacco," the authors write.
The survey also found that, compared with students who used both
substances, students who smoked marijuana only were more likely to be
male (71.6 percent vs. 59.7 percent), play sports (85.5 percent vs. 66.7
percent), live with both parents (78.2 vs. 68.3) and have good grades
(77.5 vs. 66.6). However, they were less likely to have been drunk in
the past 30 days (40.5 percent vs. 55 percent), have started using
cannabis before the age of 15 years (25.9 percent vs. 37.5 percent), to
have smoked marijuana more than once or twice during the previous 30
days (44 percent vs. 66 percent) or to use other illegal drugs (8.4
percent vs. 17.9 percent).
Compared with students who abstained from both substances, marijuana
users were more likely to be male (71.6 percent vs. 47.7 percent), to
have a good relationship with their friends (87.0 percent vs. 83.2
percent), to be sensation-seeking (37.8 percent vs. 21.8 percent) and to
play sports (85.5 percent vs. 76.6 percent), and less likely to have a
good relationship with their parents (74.1 percent vs. 82.4 percent).
Although teens who smoke both marijuana and tobacco seem to have more
psychosocial problems and thus may be worthy targets for preventive
intervention, those who smoke marijuana only also should be monitored
closely and counseled. "In any case, and even though they do not seem to
have great personal, family, or academic problems, the situation of
those adolescents who use cannabis but who declare not using tobacco
should not be trivialized," the authors conclude.
Journal reference: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(11):1042-1047.
This study was supported by a contract from the Swiss Federal Office of
Public Health and the participating cantons.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071105164453.htm
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12991
Author:
Science Daily via UKCIA
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