Trends in the disapproval and use of marijuana among adolescents and young adults in the United States: 2002–2013

Abstract

Background Despite policy changes related to the use and distribution of marijuana in cities and states across the country, few studies have examined changes in disapproval and use of marijuana among American youth. Objectives To examine trends in disapproval and use of marijuana among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Method We employ nationally representative data spanning the period of 2002–2013. Analyses are based on self-reported measurements from 105,903 younger adolescents (ages 12–14); 110,949 older adolescents (age 15–17); and 221,976 young adults (ages 18–25). Results Between 2002–2013 the proportion of adolescents ages 12–14 reporting "strong disapproval" of marijuana use initiation increased significantly from 74.4% to 78.9%. Concurrently, a significant decrease in past 12-month marijuana use (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97–0.99) was observed among younger adolescents. No significant trend was observed for marijuana use disapproval among adolescents ages 15–17 between 2002 and 2013. Yet a significant (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98–0.99) decrease in past 12-month marijuana use was observed (2002 = 26.2%, 2013 = 21.9%) among this group. Among young adults (ages 18–25), a substantial decrease—from 40.5% in 2002 to 22.6% in 2013—was observed in the proportion reporting “strong disapproval” of marijuana use initiation; however, increases in young adult past 12-month use were relatively small (Δ = 2.21) but statistically significant (OR = 1.02, 95% = 1.01–1.02). Conclusions Changes are underway in the perception and use of marijuana among American youth. However, changes differ in important ways among youth from distinct developmental subgroups.

The Changing Landscape of Adolescent Marijuana Use Risk

“…For instance, our research on marijuana trends using the NSDUH data found that the proportion of young adults (ages 18 to 25) reporting disapproval of marijuana use dropped by more than 25% between 2002 and 2013 [9]. While we did not observe a large trend increase in marijuana use among young adults, other studies seem to indicate that adult marijuana use is on the rise.…”

“…Evidence from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and Monitoring the Future (MTF) suggests that marijuana use among adolescents has decreased slightly over the last two decades [7,8]. Our research using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) also points to decreases in marijuana use among adolescents between 2002 and 2013 [9]. However, contrary to Fleming et al, we did not observe an increase in marijuana-related risk factors among adolescents (at least not the risk factors we examined); indeed, we found a meaningful increase in disapproval of youth marijuana use among adolescents ages 12 to 14 and found that disapproval remained stable among adolescents age 15 to 17.…”

An Epidemiological Study of Burglary Offenders: Trends and Predictors of Self-Reported Arrests for Burglary in the United States, 2002-2013

“…Our approach is also consistent with high-cited trend studies (Ogden et al, 7 2006) as well as recent trend studies that utilized NSDUH data (Salas-Wright, Vaughn, Todic, Córdova, & Perron, 2015). Prevalence estimates and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed using functions from the "survey" package in R (R Core Team, 2015).…”

Handgun carrying among White youth increasing in the United States: New evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002–2013

“…This approach follows the trend analysis method outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). This approach is also consistent with highly-cited trend studies (Ogden et al, 2006) as well as recent trend studies that utilized NSDUH data (Salas-Wright, Vaughn, Todic, Córdova, & Perron, 2015). Prevalence estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression functions within the 'survey' package in R (R Core Team, 2015).…”