Substance Use among Spanish Adolescents: The Information Paradox

Abstract

This aim of this paper is to determine the relationship between the consumption of tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol (including drunkenness and binge drinking consumption patterns) in the previous 30 days by Spanish adolescents and the information that is available to adolescents on drug consumption. This cross-sectional study employed data from the Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain (ESTUDES 2016), which was conducted on students aged 14 to 18 (n = 35,369). Contingency tables, mean comparison tests, and logistic regression analyses were conducted and prevalence ratios (PR) were obtained. The results show that the probability that an adolescent will smoke tobacco is associated with whether their mother and/or father smoke (PR: 1.30), whether some of their friends smoke (PR: 14.23), whether the majority of their friends smoke (PR: 94.05) and how well informed they perceive themselves to be (PR: 1.30). Cannabis use is mainly associated with whether most of their friends also use cannabis (PR: 93.05) and whether they are sufficiently informed regarding this consumption (PR: 1.59). Alcohol consumption is associated with whether their mothers drink regularly (PR: 1.21), whether most of their friends drink (PR: 37.29), and whether they are well informed (PR: 1.28). Getting drunk and binge drinking are associated with whether their friends have these behaviors (PR: 44.81 and 7.36, respectively) and whether they are sufficiently informed (PR: 1.23 for both behaviors). In conclusion, the consumption of these substances is more frequent among Spanish adolescents who believe that they are better informed and whose friends have similar patterns of consumption.

Which factors are associated with cannabis use among adolescents in Andalusia? An application of the I‐Change model

“…Moreover, a French study has shown that users did not clearly know the disadvantages of cannabis (Chabrol et al, 2004). A recent Spanish study (Belzunegui‐Eraso et al, 2020) has also concluded that information provided to individuals about cannabis is not related to health consequences (e.g. socio–cognitive and physical effect, treatment and poisonings) but to useful therapeutic effects, ways of using, or its legalization (Alonso‐Ayuso, 2020).…”

“…Concerning the advantages of cannabis use, users were more convinced of all advantages than non‐users, most notably, concerning relaxation and medical use. Moreover, several studies (Belzunegui‐Eraso et al, 2020; Chabrol et al, 2004; Johnson et al, 2021) have underlined that cannabis users highlight relaxation as the main pleasant effect of cannabis use. These consequences were also regarded by non‐users as an advantage.…”

Compulsive Internet and Prevalence Substance Use among Spanish Adolescents

“…In a previous study we reported that teenagers who perceive themselves to be better informed also present a greater prevalence of consumption of practically all these substances [ 80 ]. This result, which we have called the information paradox, should help to focus the debate on how policies aimed at preventing consumption should be developed.…”

We Need to Delay the Age of Onset of Alcohol Consumption

“…The manuscript of Tabernero et al [28] presents a study carried out between 50 groups of friends, in which the authors observed how the effect of drinking refusal self-efficacy predicts alcohol consumption behaviors, taking into account effects of peers´enhancement motivation and protective behavioral strategies. In addition, considering environment and friends, Belzunegui-Eraso et al [29] studied the influence of consumption by individuals with a close relationship to the consumer. Their results showed higher consumption rate among those whose families and especially whose friends consume alcohol.…”