Young Urban Adolescents' Activity Spaces, Close Peers, and the Risk of Cannabis Use: A Social–Spatial Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Favorite places located in city environments appear to interact with peer risk behaviors influencing the cannabis use of young urban adolescents, even after controlling for the influence of baseline cannabis use, neighborhood disorder the home neighborhood, age, gender, and mental health effects.

A review investigating the relationship between cannabis use and adolescent cognitive functioning

“…There were studies providing evidence of a relationship between social environment, cannabis use and polysubstance use [ 25 , 26 •• , 27 ] For example, one study was able to predict the longitudinal risk of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol use based on an adolescent's social environment [ 25 ]. As opposed to the previously mentioned Knopf et al [ 22 ] findings [ 22 ] which examined cannabis use among multiple races, Musci et al examined the risk factors associated with African American youths only and tobacco use and cannabis use.…”

“…In the Musci et al study, some of the traits found in the social environment of an adolescent who uses marijuana and/or tobacco at least moderately were low parental monitoring and multiple friends who engaged in substance use [ 25 ]. In the Mason and Mennis study, general disorder in a living environment or social disorganization in an adolescent’s neighborhood and living within an urban city environment was an indication of behaviors leading to cannabis use [ 26 •• ]. This study discussed areas in a city considered to be ‘favorite places’ that were associated with risk behaviors for cannabis use [ 26 •• ].…”

“…In the Mason and Mennis study, general disorder in a living environment or social disorganization in an adolescent’s neighborhood and living within an urban city environment was an indication of behaviors leading to cannabis use [ 26 •• ]. This study discussed areas in a city considered to be ‘favorite places’ that were associated with risk behaviors for cannabis use [ 26 •• ].…”

“… Buchy [ 23 ] Prospective cohort 941 Multi-site CHR-15.7 CHR-42% CHR-58%; CHR early onset: 122 (18.0%) ANCOVA: F(3,641) = 6.13. p < 0.05 Earlier age at onset of cannabis use may be a more important factor for IQ than current use or frequency HC-16.2 HC-48% HC-52% Late onset: 227 (33.5%) Naïve: 327 (48.2%) Risk factors associated with polysubstance use Mason and Mennis [ 26 •• ] Longitudinal 248 Richmond, VA 13–14 57% 43% – Neighborhood disorder ([aOR] = 1.77) Neighborhood disorder ([CI] = 1.01, 3.09), Neighborhood disorder and city environment promote peer risk behaviors which influence cannabis use of urban adolescents. City places x peer network risk (aOR = 8.17) City places x peer network risk (CI = 1.91, 35.02) Johnson [ 29 •• ] Cross sectional 115379 Multi-site Grades 9–12 50% 50% 1999–2009 (44%–37%), 2009 (41%) – – Despite lenient changes in marijuana policies throughout the US, marijuana use among high school students has been declining.…”

Zimitsani Moto: Understanding the Malawi COVID-19 Response

“…Were there differences in compliance between public health officials at state over faith-based hospitals? It is well established that one's social network characteristics (i.e., density and activities) and activity spaces (i.e., church, social clubs, markets, and bars) also influence decision-making about health (Alexandre et al 2020;Mason and Mennis 2018;Browning and Soller 2014;Yousefi-Nooraie et al 2012). The legal cases we will discuss below concern these social networks and highlight Cedric the plaintiffs' social activities intended to protect their rights against government intrusion.…”