Youth Cannabis Use: Unraveling the Patterns of Teenage Substance Consumption

The objective of this study is to identify the profiles of Galician cannabis users between the ages of 14 and 18. Information from the Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain on cannabis use in the last 30 days and its relationship with sociodemographic variables, variables related to family relationships, academic performance, leisure and concurrent use of other drugs was analyzed. SITE: Galicia. Students aged 14-18 years old residing in Galicia. None. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were estimated using logistic regression models. The prevalence of cannabis use in the past 30 days was 18.6%, with higher Odds of use among men (OR 1.3; 95% CI 0.9-1.9) and those were born outside of Spain (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-3.9). Parental permissiveness toward their children's substance use, primarily cannabis (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.3-8.0); low grades (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.8); daily tobacco use (OR 9.6; 95% CI 5.4-17.1); getting involved in risky situations (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.8-5.4) and finding it easy to get illegal substances (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.5-3.7) increase the Odds of cannabis use. The prevalence of cannabis use among Galician youth is associated with their sociodemographic characteristics, family relationships, academic performance and accessibility to cannabis. It highlights the need to adapt regional health plans to the reality of drug use in young people by developing more effective public health measures.