Teen Marijuana Use May Be Delayed, Prevented With Educational Intervention

Marijuana use may be delayed or even prevented among teens with the help of school-based interventions.

Teens who are at high risk of smoking marijuana, they are more likely to experienced neurocognitive deficits, reduced educational and occupational attainment, motor vehicle accidents and precipitation of psychosis.

"Marijuana use is highly prevalent among teenagers in North America and Europe," Dr. Patricia Conrod, who led the study, said in a statement. "As attitudes and laws towards marijuana are changing, it is important to find ways to prevent and reduce its use amongst at-risk youth. Our study reveals that targeted, brief interventions by trained teachers can achieve that goal."

For the study, researchers collected data from over 1,000 high-risk British students and their teachers at secondary schools in London. The children then selected information to identified as being high-risk by their responses to clinically-validate personality assessment. For those sensitive to anxiety or negative thinking or who are impulsive or sensation-seeking are known to be at a greater risk of substance abuse.

About 25 percent of high youth risk youth took up cannabis use over the two-year period. However, the intervention was also associated with a 33 percent reduction in cannabis use rates within the first six months following the intervention. Frequency of use was also reduced sign months following the intervention.

"Within the group at greatest risk for cannabis use, sensation seekers, the intervention was associated with a 75 [percent] reduction in rates of cannabis use six months post intervention, as well as significant reductions in frequency of use thereafter," Dr. Conrod concluded.

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