Perception of Damage and Benefits Associated to the Use of Marijuana in Adolescents, Viña Del Mar, Chile

Abstract

Objective: analyze the perception of harm and benefits, and its association with the use of marijuana in high school students, as well as the intention to use it in a context of regulatory changes. Method: a quantitative, exploratory, cross-sectional study was designed, applying a self-administered questionnaire to 268 high school students. Results: The results showed that the declared consumption in the sample is higher than that obtained in previous studies in Chile, which had already warned of the increase in prevalence, compared to previous measurements. There is a low perception of risk associated with consumption and insecurity regarding benefits. In the framework of regulatory changes, no change was observed in the intention of use. Adolescent consumers would continue to do so as before, while those who have not consumed it, 25% would try it, and 60% would still not use it. Conclusions: The current discussion in the country has focused on the effect that the change in the law would have, by itself, on adolescent consumption, however, it is relevant to direct efforts towards the perceptions of risk and benefits that they have, in order to stop the observed increasing in consumption in the country, in the latest studies.

Uso de álcool, tabaco e maconha entre estudantes do ensino médio e os fatores associados

“…Regarding the use of marijuana, a study carried out in Viña Del Mar, Chile, with 268 high school students, found that 52% of the participants admitted to having used marijuana at some point in their lives 15 . There is an association between marijuana use and school problems, with an average age of first experimentation of 15.7 years 16 .…”

Cannabis de grado médico para el tratamiento de la dependencia a Δ-9-Tetrahidrocannabinol

“…Actualmente existe un aumento de la prevalencia del uso de cannabis a nivel mundial, así como una disminución de la percepción de riesgo asociado a la misma (Degenharlt et al, 2016;Tapia & Khenti, 2019;Rodriguez & Khenti, 2019). Hay una alta prevalencia de uso en América del Norte y un aumento gradual desde 2007 (Trigo et al, 2018).…”