Research Into Action - Study Suggests Early Intervention Can Reduce Marijuana Use Initiation Among Youth

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Parents have the greatest opportunity to affect a young person's decision to use marijuana during early adolescence. After age 15, youth tend to base the decision more on peer influence. This research, published in Substance Use & Misuse indicates that parents must reach young people before age 13 to increase the likelihood that the youth will choose against initiating marijuana use. It is the first study to demonstrate and identify the different risk and protective factors associated with marijuana initiation change throughout an adolescent's development.

Many community-based coalitions are striving to find solutions to help youth avoid trying marijuana. The results of this research study could help coalitions become more effective in preventing marijuana use initiation among youth in their communities. The March/April 2009 issue of Research into Action breaks down the findings of the study, “Preventing Youth from Initiating Marijuana Use”, and suggests effective ways to prevent youth of different age groups from trying marijuana.

More on the study and how local anti-drug coalitions can use the study to inform their efforts appears in the March/April 2009 issue of Research into Action. To read further, go to the Research into Action page of CADCA’s National Coalition Institute Web site. The site also features an archive of previous issues in HTML and PDF formats.

Research into Action is a free publication, which reports on research findings that impact the work of coalitions. Published six times a year by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute, each issue examines what coalitions can do to implement knowledge they gain in their communities. Sign up for your free e-mail subscription on the Coalition Resources page of the National Coalition Institute’s Web site.