Citation

Wernette GT, Bonar EE, Blow FC, Walton MAL. J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Gynecol. 2018; 31(5): 490-493.

Affiliation

University of Michigan Addiction Center, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan Injury Center, Ann Arbor, MI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpag.2018.04.006

PMID

29751095

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Pregnant and non-pregnant populations in the US report marijuana as the most commonly used illicit drug. Patterns of marijuana use and psychosocial correlates are unclear among non-treatment seeking teenage girls. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The objective of this study was to use cross-sectional data to examine the psychosocial correlates of recent marijuana use among a sample of 646 pregnant and non-pregnant adolescent girls presenting to urban primary care clinics (mean age = 15.6, SD = 1.9; 65% African American; 8.8% pregnant).

RESULTS: In Poisson regression analysis, frequency of marijuana use was significantly associated with greater likelihood of pregnancy (IRR = 1.30; 1.03-1.65), alcohol use (IRR = 1.11; 10.08-1.14), condomless sex (IRR = 1.95; 1.61-2.37), parents' drug use (IRR = 1.04; 1.02-1.05), and negative peer influences (IRR = 1.12; 1.10-1.16).

CONCLUSION: Marijuana use among adolescent girls in this sample was associated with a number of risk behaviors as well as parental and peer influences. Culturally sensitive screening and intervention approaches for marijuana use among adolescent girls should address multiple individual, relationship and community factors, in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy as well as to reduce marijuana use during this vulnerable time.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Marijuana; adolescent; pregnant; psychosocial; risky sex