Citation

Dammann G, Dürsteler-MacFarland KM, Strasser H, Skipper GE, Wiesbeck GA, Wurst FM. Psychiatr. Danub. 2014; 26(1): 56-65.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis use among Swiss students and to assess their attitudes regarding health and safety issues associated with drug use.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After a workshop, 173 students (23.1% male, 75.7% female; 44.4% age 16, 43.8% age 17 and 11.8% age 18) from a Swiss school were surveyed by questionnaire.

RESULTS: 59.3% (n=103) of all participants had tried cannabis, and 30.1% of those who reported cannabis use had consumed more than 100 joints. Of those 103 students with cannabis experience, 6.8% rated the risk of cannabis-related psychic effects as low, and 9.8% were not concerned about driving under the influence of cannabis. In cases of heavy cannabis use, the chance of increased tobacco, alcohol or other drug use is higher than for those with less or no cannabis use at all (odds ratios of 4.33-10.86).

CONCLUSIONS: This paper deals primarily with cannabis prevalence data in adolescents from previous studies and sources, and shows that our findings deviate significantly - and surprisingly - from past research. Our data from a school survey indicates higher cannabis use than data from official drug policy studies. Additionally, our data shows that the students' self-reported attitudes towards health and safety issues were mostly realistic. The examination of methodological issues that might impact prevalence estimates should be added to the cannabis literature. © Medicinska naklada.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; student; female; male; safety; young adult; risk assessment; prevalence; Cannabis; cannabis; smoking; drug use; article; major clinical study; illicit drug; alcohol consumption; student attitude; cannabis use; Switzerland; tobacco use; Alcohol and drugs - adolescents - tobacco; Drug prevention; health service; School survey