Do societal wealth, family affluence and gender account for trends in adolescent cannabis use? a 30 country cross-national study
ter Bogt, Tom F. M. de Looze, Margreet Molcho, Michal Godeau, Emmanuelle Hublet, Anne Kokkevi, Anna Kuntsche, Emmanuel Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse Franelic, Iva Pejnovic Simons-Morton, Bruce
ter Bogt, Tom F. M.
de Looze, Margreet
Molcho, Michal
Godeau, Emmanuelle
Hublet, Anne
Kokkevi, Anna
Kuntsche, Emmanuel
Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
Franelic, Iva Pejnovic
Simons-Morton, Bruce
Publication Date
2013-11-22
Type
Article
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Citation
ter Bogt, Tom F. M. de Looze, Margreet; Molcho, Michal; Godeau, Emmanuelle; Hublet, Anne; Kokkevi, Anna; Kuntsche, Emmanuel; Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse; Franelic, Iva Pejnovic; Simons-Morton, Bruce; Sznitman, Sharon; Vieno, Alessio; Vollebergh, Wilma; Pickett, William (2013). Do societal wealth, family affluence and gender account for trends in adolescent cannabis use? a 30 country cross-national study. Addiction 109 (2), 273-283
Abstract
AimsTo examine cross-national changes in frequent adolescent cannabis use (40+ times consumed over life-time at age 15) over time and relate these trends to societal wealth, family affluence and gender. DesignData from three cycles (2002, 2006, 2010) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study were used for cross-sectional and trend analyses of adolescent cannabis use. SettingRepresentative surveys in 30 European and North American countries. ParticipantsA total of 160606 15-year-old students. MeasurementsRespondents' life-time cannabis use, demographics, family affluence (FAS) and frequency of peer contacts were measured individually. Indicators of wealth (gross domestic product per capita, GDP) and perceived availability of cannabis were obtained from national public data bases. FindingsThe frequency of life-time cannabis use decreased over time among adolescents in Europe and North America, particularly in western European countries and the United States (relative risk (RR)=0.86: confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.93). This trend was not observed consistently in rapidly developing countries in eastern, central and southern Europe. Over time (2002-10), cannabis use became: (i) less characteristic of high GDP countries in contrast to lower GDP countries (RR=0.74: CI 0.57-0.95); (ii) less characteristic of youth from high FAS families in contrast to youth from low FAS families (RR=0.83: CI 0.72-0.96); and (iii) characterized by an increasing gender gap, i.e. consumption was higher among males (RR 1.26: CI 1.04-1.53). Perceived availability of cannabis and peer contacts remained strong predictors of frequent cannabis use. ConclusionsAmong 30 European and North American countries, cannabis use appears to have trickled down' over time, with developing countries taking on the former (heavier) use pattern of richer countries, and less affluent youth taking on the former (heavier) use pattern of more affluent youth. Cannabis use continues to be more common among adolescent males than females.
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Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland