Self-reported reasons for voluntary abstinences by adolescent cannabis users
Abstract
Purpose
Factors influencing cannabis use have been previously identified mainly using multivariate approaches. However, there is a dearth of information collected from the perspective of the adolescent cannabis user, in particular for voluntary abstinences. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 38 cannabis users were identified from a sample of 261 adolescents recruited from schools. They completed open-ended questions identifying reasons for voluntary abstinences. Thematic analysis was used to assess their responses.
Findings
Voluntary abstinences by cannabis users were influenced by both internal and external factors. These were the user’s state of mind, an attempt to quit, negative effects of cannabis, prior to important events, prior to family interactions and peers.
Research limitations/implications
The results show that adolescent cannabis users are flexible in their approach to using cannabis, being able to briefly stop when the situation warrants it. However, the study is limited by a lack of in depth and rich data, limiting the scope of the analysis.
Originality/value
This is the first study to identify reasons for voluntary abstinences from the user’s perspective in adolescent cannabis users.
Keywords
Citation
Marandure, B.N. and Graham, H.L. (2017), "Self-reported reasons for voluntary abstinences by adolescent cannabis users", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 23-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/DAT-01-2016-0004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited