A Swiss study suggests that teens that use only cannabis appear better than those who also use tobacco duties, and are more socially driven and no more psychosocial problems than those who abstain from both substances, according to a new report.
Cannabis of marijuana cigarettes the illicit drug most used by young people, according to background information in the article. Cannabis use is associated with the use of other substances such as tobacco and illicit drugs.” The gateway theory assumes that the use of legal drugs (tobacco and alcohol) is the previous step to cannabis use,” the authors write.” But recent research shows that cannabis use may precede or concomitant use of tobacco, and in fact can enhance the use of cigarette smoking or lead to addiction, regardless of smoking nicotine. "
JC Suris, MD, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, analyzed data from a national survey of 2002 Swiss students from 16 to 20 years. A total of 5263 students were included in the analysis, including 455 who smoked marijuana cigarettes only who smoked in 1703 marijuana cigarettes and tobacco and 3105 who abstained from both substances.
"Our findings in this nationally representative sample of adolescents show that 6 percent of them use cannabis have used no tobacco, and that one fifth of current cannabis users (21.1 percent) declares never having used tobacco,” the authors write.
The survey also showed that compared with students who used both substances, students who smoked marijuana cigarettes only were more likely to be male (71.6 percent vs. 59.7 percent), sports (85.5 percent vs. 66.7 percent), living with both parents (78.2 versus 68.3) and have good grades ( 77.5 vs. 66.6). Yet they were less likely to have been drunk in the last 30 days (40.5 percent vs. 55 percent), have started using cannabis before the age of 15 years (25.9 percent vs. 37.5 percent) to have smoked marijuana cigarettes more than one or two times in the last 30 days (44 percent vs. 66 percent) or other illicit drugs (8.4 percent vs. 17.9 percent).
Compared with students who abstain from both substances, s users more likely to be male (71.6 percent vs. 47.7 percent), a good relationship to have with their friends (87.0 percent vs. 83.2 percent), to be sensation-search (37.8 percent vs. 21, 8 percent) and to play sports (85.5 percent vs. 76.6 percent), and less chance of a good relationship with their parents (74.1 percent vs. 82.4 percent).
Although teens who smoke, both marijuana cigarette and tobacco seem to have more psychosocial problems and thus may be worthy targets for preventive intervention, those who smoke marijuana cigarettes only should be closely monitored and advised.” In any case, although not seem to have great personal, family or academic problems, the situation of young people who use cannabis but who declare not using tobacco should not be minimized,” the authors conclude.
