Past-Month Marijuana Use Is Associated with Self-Reported Violence Among Trauma-Exposed Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Marijuana use and trauma have independently been associated with an increased risk for violence among adolescents; however, research has not examined potential associations between marijuana use and violence among trauma-exposed adolescents. Therefore, we examined data from two groups of adolescents: (a) those reporting exposure to a criterion A-defined traumatic event (N = 40; M_age = 15.70, SD = 0.96) and (b) those reporting no history of trauma exposure (N = 25; M_age = 16.08, SD = .99). We hypothesized that past-month marijuana use would relate to elevated self-reported violence among trauma-exposed adolescents. Two hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to evaluate the hypotheses of the current study. Results from regression models supported this hypothesis. Findings suggest the importance of understanding the role of traumatic-event exposure as it relates to marijuana use and violence among adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• marijuana
• trauma
• violence

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the study participants, Aspen Education Group, and several key research personnel, including Dr. Sheneen Daniels, Carolina Barreto, Hillary Farrell, Sara Goodrum, Taylor Sorrows, Ilene Thompson, Megan Trammell, and Jennifer White, without whom this study could not have been completed.