Type | Journal Article - Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences |
Title | Cannabis Use and Its Social Correlates among In-School Adolescents in Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Peru, and Tonga |
Author(s) | |
Volume | 5 |
Issue | 9 |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 2014 |
URL | http://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/2672 |
Abstract | The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cannabis use and associated factors among school-going adolescents in Algeria, Morocco, Peru, Palestine and Tonga. Using data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS), we assessed the prevalence of cannabis use and social correlates among adolescents (N=15226). The overall lifetime cannabis use was 3.2% and current cannabis use was 2.6%. Lifetime and current cannabis use was higher in Tonga (7.5% and 6.8%, respectively) than in any other of the five study countries. Variables positively associated with the outcome in multivariable analysis were male gender, poverty (went hungry), current smoking, having been in a physical fight, had an injury, and frequent consumption of fast food. Efforts to prevent and control cannabis use may need to address a cluster of risk behaviours, in particular cigarette smoking. |