Contextual Effects of Neighborhoods and Schools on Adolescent and Young Adult Marijuana Use in the United States.

Subst Abuse
Authors
Abstract

Little is known about the unique contribution of schools vs neighborhoods in driving adolescent marijuana use. This study examined the relative contribution of each setting and the influence of school and neighborhood socioeconomic status on use. We performed a series of cross-classified multilevel logistic models predicting past 30-day adolescent (N = 18 329) and young adult (N = 13 908) marijuana use using data from Add Health. Marijuana use differed by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and public assistance in adjusted models. Variance parameters indicated a high degree of clustering by school (σ2 = 0.30) and less pronounced clustering by neighborhood (σ2 = 0.06) in adolescence when accounting for both levels simultaneously in a cross-classified multilevel model. Clustering by school persisted into young adulthood (σ2 = 0.08). Parental receipt of public assistance increased the likelihood of use during adolescence (odds ratio = 1.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.59), and higher parental education was associated with increased likelihood of use in young adulthood. These findings indicate that both contexts may be promising locations for intervention.

Year of Publication
2017
Journal
Subst Abuse
Volume
11
Pages
1178221817711417
Date Published
2017
ISSN
1178-2218
DOI
10.1177/1178221817711417
PubMed ID
28615949
PubMed Central ID
PMC5462815
Links
Grant list
K01 DA031738 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
K01 MH102403 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P01 HD031921 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
T32 DA007292 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States