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Conduct problems in adolescence increase likelihood of cannabis use

Teenagers with conduct problems or whose friends used cannabis were more likely to use cannabis, which may predict cannabis use disorder in emerging adulthood, according to data published in Addiction.

“The currently limited research is mixed on whether trends toward legalization of recreational cannabis lead to greater access to cannabis for youth, which could subsequently lead to greater use of this drug,” Ivy N. Defoe, post-doctoral researcher at Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote. “It is critical and timely to examine the precursors and potential adverse consequences associated with patterns of cannabis use among youth and whether these associations lead to cannabis use disorder.”

Defoe and colleagues conducted a longitudinal study analyzing four waves of data from 364 racially and socioeconomically diverse youth to assess whether cannabis use during adolescence increased risk for cannabis use disorder and/or conduct problems, and whether this was mediated by exposure to other teenagers who used cannabis.

Participants were aged 13.5 years at first wave and about age 19 at last wave. Researchers analyzed self-reported cannabis use, conduct problems, number of peers using cannabis and cannabis use disorder criteria at the final wave using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, which separates changes within-persons as predictors of later within-person changes, according to the study.

Analysis demonstrated that change in adolescent cannabis use did not predict changes in conduct problems or peer cannabis use over time when controlling for gender, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. However, increases in conduct problems predicted increases in cannabis use and ultimately cannabis use disorder in emerging adulthood. Some of this effect was mediated by increased prevalence of peer cannabis use (beta = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.07-0.2).

Having a friend who used cannabis predicted later cannabis use disorder because these teenagers were more likely to use cannabis themselves (beta = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.04-0.14).

“As cannabis use becomes more normative, access to the drug will inevitably increase,” Defoe and colleagues wrote. “If youth with [conduct problems] use unprescribed cannabis to cope with their condition, then healthier alternative coping strategies and support should be made available.” – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.