The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on August 7, 2008
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckn065
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Has occasional cannabis use among adolescents also to be considered as a risk marker?
Caroline Huas1,2,3, Christine Hassler1,2 and Marie Choquet1,2
1 Inserm, U669, Paris, France
2 Université Paris-Sud and Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S0669, Paris, France
3 Department of General Practice, Université Paris 7 Denis-Diderot, Paris F-75870, France
Correspondence: Caroline Huas, Inserm, U669, PSIGIAM ‘Paris Sud Innovation Group in Adolescent Mental Health’, Maison des Adolescents, 97 Boulevard de Port Royal Paris, Paris, France, tel: +33-158412845, fax: +33-158412844, e-mail: carohuas{at}gmail.com
Received June 6, 2008 , accepted June 19, 2008
Background: The association between cannabis use and health or behaviour problems is quite well established. Little is known about the risk markers related to occasional or former use. This work aims to explore associations between well-being in life and different levels of cannabis use. Methods: A total of 16 934 French adolescents completed self-administered multi-choice questionnaires (from the European Study ESPAD 2003) on substance consumption, psychopathology, socio-demographics and schooling. Four groups were defined according to cannabis use: Never-Users (no lifetime consumption and no consumption during the last month), Former Users (at least one lifetime consumption but none in the last month), Current Occasional Users (<5 times during the previous month) and Current Heavy Users (
5 times during the previous month). Analyses were performed with SAS 8.2 software and adjusted for gender and age. Results: A total of 68.2% of students aged 12–19 years were Never-Users, 15.5% Former Users, 8.3% Current Occasional Users and 8.0% Current Heavy Users. When Former Users were compared with Never-Users, significant differences were found with regard to suicide attempt, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9 (2.4–3.4); multiple acts of violence, OR = 6.4 (5.4–7.7) and running away from home, OR = 3.1 (2.5–3.8). These differences were greater when Current Occasional Users were compared with Never-Users: suicide attempt, OR = 4.2 (3.5–5.0); multiple acts of violence, OR = 12.6 (10.2–15.5) and running away from home OR = 4.2 (3.4–5.4). Differences remain even after adjustment for alcohol and tobacco consumption. Conclusions: These results showed that occasional and even former marijuana use is associated with risky behaviour among adolescents.
Keywords: adolescent, former cannabis use, occasional cannabis use, risk markers, risky health behaviour