Individual and country-level effects of cannabis-related perceptions on cannabis use : A multilevel study among adolescents in 32 European countries

• Purpose. The present paper investigated individual and aggregated effects of cannabis-related perceptions and other cannabis-related indicators on 12-months cannabis use prevalence and frequency among 15-16 year olds using multilevel analysis across 32 European countries.Methods. Data on cannabis use, perceptions of availability, risks and friends’ use as well as socio-demographic characteristics were taken from the 2007 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). On country-level, aggregated measures of the perceptions were used. Moreover, data on cannabis price and 12-months cannabis use prevalence in the total population were taken from the World Drug Report. The analytical sample comprised n = 86,107 students (82.5 % of the overall 2007 international database).Results. Strong and persistent individual-level effects were identified for perceived availability, perceived harm and the number of cannabis using friends. The effects on cannabis use prevalence and frequency were more pronounced than country-level effects. On country-level, aggregated perceived peer consumption and population prevalence were significant predictors, while price was found not related to both outcome variables. The association between perceived friends’ use and cannabis use was moderated by aggregated perceived availability.Conclusions. Proximal influences related to the immediate social situation seem to be more strongly associated with cannabis use than distal influences related to social contexts emphasizing the importance of personal attitudes and perceptions in substance use behaviour. Prevention programs may focus on informing adolescents about the potential risks of cannabis and on correcting misperceptions of social norms. Policy measures may target on reducing visibility of drug use.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cannabis use

Cannabis-related perceptions

Cannabis price

Adolescents

Survey

Multilevel analysis

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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