@article{ref1,
title="Predictors of cannabis use among first-time justice-involved youth: a cohort study",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2021",
author="Tolou-Shams, Marina and Folk, Johanna B. and Marshall, Brandon D. L. and Dauria, Emily F. and Kemp, Kathleen and Li, Yu and Koinis-Mitchell, Daphne and Brown, Larry K.",
volume="225",
number="",
pages="108754-108754",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Justice-involved youth use cannabis at higher rates than their same-aged peers increasing likelihood of adverse behavioral health consequences and continued legal involvement. This study examined individual level predictors of early onset use cannabis use (<13 years of age) and cannabis use initiation in the 12 months following first court contact. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were 391 first-time justice-involved youth (56.9 % male; M(age) = 14.6 years; 32.1 % White, 11.1 % Black, 14.7 % Other/Multi-racial, 42.2 % Latinx) and an involved caregiver (87.2 % female; M(age) = 41.0 years). Baseline assessments captured individual level factors; cannabis use was assessed every four months post-baseline for 12 months. Primary analyses involved multivariable modified Poisson regressions and survival analysis. <br><br>RESULTS: In multivariable models, youth who reported lifetime cannabis use (n = 188, 48.1 %) were older, reported alcohol use and positive cannabis use expectancies. Greater self-control and self-concept were associated with lower likelihood of lifetime cannabis use. Youth who initiated cannabis during the 12-month follow-up (n = 30, 14.8 %) tended to be older, White/non-Latinx, and to report more psychiatric symptoms (posttraumatic stress, externalizing, internalizing, and affect dysregulation), delinquent behavior, lower levels of self-control, poorer self-concept, greater drug use intentions and positive cannabis expectancies. In the multivariable survival analysis, affect dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and more positive cannabis expectancies remained independently and positively associated with cannabis initiation. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: There is a critical and unique window of opportunity to prevent cannabis use initiation among first-time justice-involved youth. Research is needed to determine whether brief interventions that aim to modify expectancies about cannabis use reduce rates of cannabis initiation in this underserved population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108754",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108754"
}