Does the association of school experiences and marijuana use differ based on age of African American high school students?

ABSTRACT

African American adolescents are disproportionately involved in marijuana use. This study investigated whether the association of school experiences and recent marijuana use (past 30 days) differed based on age of African American adolescents. A secondary analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed for 14–15-year olds and 16–17-year olds. Results revealed that students at highest risk for recent marijuana use were those who earned poor grades and felt that all or most of the students in their grade used marijuana. Of those who felt that all or most of the students in their grade used marijuana, 16–17-year olds were 3 times and 14–15-year olds were 6 times more likely to have recently used marijuana. Public health educators and prevention specialists can use these findings to assist them in further developing and implementing substance abuse programs which are culturally competent in nature. Future research is needed to further explore the association between perceived peer marijuana use and individual marijuana use among African American students.

KEYWORDS:

• Marijuana
• African American
• adolescents
• school
• age