Year: 1998
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Event history analysis was applied to monthly life and drug histories of a representative community sample of 706 marijuana users, followed from ages 15-16 to 34-35, to investigate factors associated with cessation of marijuana use from adolescence to adulthood. In addition to age and gender, the most important determinants of cessation are the phenomenology of marijuana use, social role participation, depressive symptoms and deviance. Frequent users, those who started using early and those who use illicit drugs other than marijuana are more likely to continue their marijuana use. Using marijuana for social reasons accelerates cessation, using to change one's mood reduces cessation. Becoming pregnant and a parent is the most important social role leading to marijuana cessation for women. There is also a very important experimental effect of the interview itself on the reported timing of a cessation. The effect of a social context favorable to marijuana use appears to reflect selection rather than social influence.
Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Kevin Chen, Denise B Kandel
Institutions: Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,380
OpenAlex ID: W1965705141