Citation

Patrick ME, Bray BC, Berglund PA. J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 2016; 77(6): 881-888.

Affiliation

Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

27797689

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examines reasons for marijuana use among young adults age 19/20 in the United States and the extent to which patterns of reasons are associated with marijuana use and problems 15 years later.

METHOD: The national Monitoring the Future study provided data on marijuana users at age 19/20 who were also surveyed at age 35 (n = 2,288; 50% women; 83% White). Latent class analysis was used to identify distinct patterns of reasons for marijuana use, which were then used as predictors of later marijuana use and problems.

RESULTS: Five latent classes described the following patterns of reasons for marijuana use at age 19/20: Experimental, Get High + Relax, Typical, Typical + Escape, and Coping + Drug Use. Highest risk for later marijuana use and problems was found for people with Coping + Drug Use and Get High + Relax reasons in young adulthood; those with Experimental reasons were at lowest risk for later use or problems.

CONCLUSIONS: Coping and getting high emerged as strong predictors of later marijuana use and problems.

RESULTS support the predictive value of self-reported reasons for using marijuana among young adults.

Language: en