Peers or Parents?: An Examination of Risk and Protective Factors Influencing Use of and Curiosity about Marijuana among Adolescents in the Caribbean Island of Barbados

Abstract

Recently, there has been increased support for the decriminalization of cannabis or marijuana. In the Caribbean, investigations have been conducted to determine whether cannabis should be legalised or decriminalized and for what purpose(s). This has brought about public discussions on the use and impact of cannabis use on the youth. Against this backdrop, this study sought to investigate the factors influencing marijuana use among adolescents in the Caribbean island of Barbados. It specifically focused on the risk and protective factors of peer groups and parents and their interaction effects. It utilized nationally representative data from the Barbados Secondary Schools survey of 2013 conducted by the National Council of Substance Abuse in Barbados. Logit regression analyses were performed to determine the relative roles of parental attachment, family structure, peer use and peer disapproval on adolescent past month use and curiosity to use marijuana. It was found that both parents and peers affect marijuana use among adolescents. Specifically, the adolescents least likely to use marijuana lived with both parents, had little no friends using marijuana, had peers who would disapprove of marijuana use and had strong bonds with their parents. More than this, parental attachment appeared to be more important for individuals without peers who would disapprove of marijuana use. However, only peer use had a consistent impact on adolescent curiosity about marijuana. Prevention interventions should emphasize the importance of friendship choices and well as involve parents in drug education.

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• Caribbean
• family structure
• marijuana use
• parental involvement
• peer disapproval
• peer relationships

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) who in collaboration with the Inter-American Drug Control Commission (CICAD) conducted the survey of secondary school students in Barbados and provided the data that was analyzed in this article.