Individual and Peer Correlates of the Annual Frequency of Marijuana Use Among African American Adolescents Living in US Urban Public Housing Neighborhoods

Abstract

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Urban minority youth reports the highest consumption. Using a sample of 550 African American youth living in public housing located in three large Northeastern US cities, this article examines individual and peer correlates of the annual frequency of marijuana use. Data were collected between the Fall of 2007 and the Spring of 2008. The sample reported a mean age of 15 with 48% being female. Pearson's bivariate correlation and sequential regression analysis were conducted. The model explained 35% of the variance. Limitations and implications are discussed.