Early childhood predictors of age of initiation to use of cannabis: A birth prospective study. (14th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayatbakhsh, Reza; Williams, Gail M.; Bor, William; Najman, Jake M.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol review. Volume 32:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2012-10-14
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drinking of alcoholic beverages -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00520.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-5236

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="dar520-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction and Aims</title> <p>Early age of cannabis use predicts subsequent illicit drug abuse and other psychosocial problems. Identification of factors associated with early cannabis use may contribute to the development of preventive interventions. This study aimed to examine the early life predictors of age of initiation to cannabis.</p> </sec> <sec id="dar520-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p>Data were from Mater Hospital and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, a population‐based prospective birth cohort study. Participants were a cohort of 3488 young adults who self‐reported frequency and age of onset of cannabis use at the 21 year follow up.</p> </sec> <sec id="dar520-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Of 3488 young adults, 48.9% (51.8% men and 46.4% women) reported having ever used cannabis. For those who had ever used cannabis, age of onset had mean and median of 15.8 and 16.0 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis child's gender, change in maternal marital status, quality of marital relationship, maternal cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption and maternal depression when the child was 5 years statistically significantly predicted age of initiation to cannabis use.</p> </sec> <sec id="dar520-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion and Conclusions</title> <p>The present study explores the impact of early childhood factors associated with age of onset of cannabis use. It is suggested that the family environment within which children are reared, including factors such as parents' marital circumstances, has a major influence on initiation to cannabis use in adolescence. Research is needed to disentangle the pathways of association between these early life factors and early initiation to use of cannabis.</p> </sec> </abstract>