Perceptions of social norms and exposure to pro-marijuana messages are associated with adolescent marijuana use

Abstract

Despite consistent declines in rates of cigarette use among adolescents in the last five years, rates of marijuana use have remained constant, with marijuana being the most widely used illegal drug among adolescents. More work is needed to understand how social norms, perceived risks and benefits, and social media messaging impact use of marijuana. This study compared perceptions and social norms related to marijuana, blunts and cigarettes. Additionally, we assessed how perceptions related to social norms, risks and benefits, and exposure to pro- versus anti-marijuana messaging is related to use. Participants were 786 adolescents from Southern and Northern California (36.7% male, 63.3% females; mean age = 16.1 years; SD = 1.6). Participants came from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with 207 (26.61%) White, 171 (21.98%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 232 (29.82%) Hispanic, and 168 (21.59%) other. Results indicated that marijuana and blunts were consistently perceived as more socially acceptable and less risky than cigarettes (p<0.01). Participants who reported that their friends used marijuana had a 27% greater odds of using marijuana themselves. Further, seeing messages about the good things or benefits of marijuana use was associated with a 6% greater odds of use [OR 1.06 (CI 1.00, 1.12)]. This study's findings offer a number of important public health implications, particularly as states move towards legalization of marijuana for recreational use. As this occurs, states need to take adolescents’ perceptions of risks, benefits, social norms, and peer influences into account as they implement strategies to reduce youth use of marijuana and blunts.

Past-month cannabis use among U.S. individuals from 2002–2015: An age-period-cohort analysis

“…Drug use patterns are known to be strongly influenced by social norms and other group-level processes (M. Cerdá et al, 2017; Johnson & Fendrich, 2005; Reynoso-Vallejo, 2011; Roditis, Delucchi, Chang, & Halpern-Felsher, 2016). Future research could assess these potential mediators, and how effects differ for medical versus recreational cannabis use (Roy-Byrne et al, 2015).…”

Disentangling longitudinal relations between youth cannabis use, peer cannabis use, and conduct problems: developmental cascading links to cannabis use disorder

“…When addressing the sequencing between youth cannabis use and CP, it is essential to consider the peer context. Similar to other substance use and problem behaviors, cannabis use during adolescence is primarily a social behavior , and peers can play a critical role in predicting such behaviors . Specifically, if adolescents affiliate with peers who use cannabis, this could increase their risk for both cannabis use and CP via social learning processes .…”

Rolling and scrolling: The portrayal of marijuana cigars (blunts) on YouTube

“…In fact, a few of the messengers in the videos stated that their video was in response to a request from their subscribers to share a tutorial on a particular topic (e.g., how to roll a particular type of blunt, such as a honey or rose blunt). Similar to existing studies (Allem, Escobedo, Chu, Boley, & Unger, 2017; Krauss et al, 2017b; Roditis, Delucchi, Chang, & Halpern-Felsher, 2016), the images of individuals rolling and smoking blunts have the potential to normalize the practice and encourage the use of blunts to consume marijuana. Although very few videos consisted of advertisements by cigar/blunt wrap companies (20%), several messengers displayed a proud sense of loyalty to particular brands of cigar/blunt wraps (e.g., Swisher Sweets) and flavors (e.g., grape).…”