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Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Poulton, R; Moffitt, TE; Harrington, H; Milne, BJ; Caspi, A
Published in: The New Zealand medical journal
December 2001

To document patterns of cannabis use and dependence from late-adolescence through to the mid-twenties; to describe perceived consequences of cannabis use among young people; and to consider policy implications of these findings.This was a longitudinal study of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study birth cohort with repeated measures of cannabis use at ages 18, 21 and 26 years.Twelve month prevalence rates of cannabis use (just over 50%) and dependence (just under 10%) remained stable between age 21 and 26 years, contrary to an expected decline. Cannabis dependence, as distinct from occasional use, was associated with high rates of harder drug use, selling of drugs and drug conviction. Cumulatively, almost 3/4 of our cohort had tried cannabis by age 26. Young people thought the risk of getting caught using cannabis was trivial, and that using cannabis had few negative social consequences.The persistent high rates of cannabis use and dependence among young New Zealand adults raises important issues for policy makers. Current laws are not particularly effective in deterring use. Whereas occasional use does not appear to present a serious problem, cannabis dependence among users is a serious public health issue that warrants immediate action.

Duke Scholars

Published In

The New Zealand medical journal

EISSN

1175-8716

ISSN

0028-8446

Publication Date

December 2001

Volume

114

Issue

1145

Start / End Page

544 / 547

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Prevalence
  • New Zealand
  • Marijuana Abuse
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Poulton, R., Moffitt, T. E., Harrington, H., Milne, B. J., & Caspi, A. (2001). Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 114(1145), 544–547.
Poulton, R., T. E. Moffitt, H. Harrington, B. J. Milne, and A. Caspi. “Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy.The New Zealand Medical Journal 114, no. 1145 (December 2001): 544–47.
Poulton R, Moffitt TE, Harrington H, Milne BJ, Caspi A. Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy. The New Zealand medical journal. 2001 Dec;114(1145):544–7.
Poulton, R., et al. “Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy.The New Zealand Medical Journal, vol. 114, no. 1145, Dec. 2001, pp. 544–47.
Poulton R, Moffitt TE, Harrington H, Milne BJ, Caspi A. Persistence and perceived consequences of cannabis use and dependence among young adults: implications for policy. The New Zealand medical journal. 2001 Dec;114(1145):544–547.

Published In

The New Zealand medical journal

EISSN

1175-8716

ISSN

0028-8446

Publication Date

December 2001

Volume

114

Issue

1145

Start / End Page

544 / 547

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk
  • Prevalence
  • New Zealand
  • Marijuana Abuse
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice