Synthetic cannabinoid use in a nationally representative sample of US high school seniors

Abstract

Background Synthetic cannabinoids are marketed as “legal highs” and have similar effects to cannabis (marijuana). Although prevalence of synthetic cannabinoid use is now declining in the US, use has been associated with tens of thousands of poisonings and hospitalizations, particularly among teens. It is important to examine which teens are at highest risk for use of these new, potentially deleterious drugs as they are understudied and continue to emerge. Methods Data were analyzed from a nationally representative sample of high school seniors in the Monitoring the Future study (2011–2013; Weighted N = 11,863; modal age: 18). Bivariable and multivariable models were used to delineate correlates of recent (12-month) synthetic cannabinoid use. Results Ten percent reported any recent use and 3% reported more frequent use (used ≥6 times). Females were at low odds for use and going out 4–7 evenings per week for fun consistently increased odds of use. Black and religious students were at low odds until controlling for other drug use, and higher income increased odds of use until controlling for other drug use. Lifetime use of alcohol, cigarettes and other illicit drugs all robustly increased odds of use, but frequency of lifetime marijuana use was the strongest correlate with more frequent use further increasing odds of synthetic cannabinoid use. Only 0.5% of non-marijuana users reported use of synthetic cannabinoids. Conclusions This is among the first national studies to delineate correlates of synthetic cannabinoid use. Results can inform national and local efforts to prevent use and adverse consequences resulting from use.

Synthetic cannabinoids: characteristics, use and clinical implications

“…The reasons for SCs' use are normally their better availability, avoiding positive screening on a drug test and their lower cost [20,45]. However, the frequency of marijuana use appears to increase the likelihood of SCs' use [43].…”

“…In general, most users prefer natural marijuana over SCs since it tends to be associated with fewer adverse effects [15,22,37], so the majority of SC use is experimental [43].…”

An approach to the new psychoactive drugs phenomenon

“…Thus, SCs toxicity reports in the United States increased from 349 in January, 2015, to 1501 in April of the same year (Law, Schier, Martin, Chang & Wolkin, 2015). Likewise, a study performed in the United States on a sample of 12000 adolescents found that up to 10% of the students had used SCs in the previous 12 months and 3.2% acknowledged a frequent use of at least six times in the same time frame (Palamar & Acosta, 2015).…”

Longitudinal Predictors of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Adolescents

“…13 Furthermore, whereas overall rates of SC use have declined, research has shown that rates of SC use among routine marijuana users has decreased at a much slower rate than their nonusing and lessfrequent marijuana-using peers. 14 15,17 Notably, studies to date do not assess whether marijuana use is predictive of SC use or vice versa. Given that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug by high school students in the United States, 11 it is important to delineate the temporal relations between these variables to inform adolescent substance-use and prevention efforts.…”