Original scientific paper

CANNABIS USE AMONG A SAMPLE OF 16 TO 18 YEAR-OLD STUDENTS IN SWITZERLAND

Gerhard Dammann ; Psychiatric University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland; Psychiatric Hospital, Münsterlingen, Switzerland
Kenneth M. Dürsteler-MacFarland ; Psychiatric University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland; Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Hannes Strasser ; Psychiatric University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Gregory E. Skipper ; Alabama Physician Health Program, Alabama, USA
Gerhard A. Wiesbeck ; Psychiatric University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Friedrich Martin Wurst ; Psychiatric University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland; Christian-Doppler-Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

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.

Keywords

cannabis - drug prevention - alcohol and drugs – adolescents – tobacco - school survey

Hrčak ID:

162032

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/162032

Publication date:

3.3.2014.

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