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- Title
Trajectories of Young People's Cannabis Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany.
- Authors
Kleine, Ronja; Hansen, Julia; Nees, Frauke; Hanewinkel, Reiner
- Abstract
Abstract:Objectives: This analysis aims to examine different trajectories of cannabis use within adolescents and young adults in Germany before and during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January and Mid-February 2022 with 16,765 German youths aged 14 to 21 years (51.4 % female). Group-based trajectory modelling based on retrospective data on cannabis use before and during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic was calculated with subsequent multinomial analysis predicting trajectory group membership by sociodemographic variables, sensation seeking and experienced pandemic related burdens. Results: Five different trajectory groups of cannabis users were observed: rare cannabis users (53 %), increasing cannabis users, rare pre-pandemic use (22 %), increasing cannabis users, moderate pre-pandemic use (12 %), decreasing cannabis users (8 %), and (nearly) daily cannabis users (6 %). Individuals with older age, male gender, higher sensation seeking, lower education, and a higher pandemic-related burden were significantly more likely to report a more frequent/heavy cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The large proportion of youths with an increased cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic shows need for low threshold help offers, and cannabis prevention programs. Due to the study design, one should be careful with causal interpretations.
- Subjects
GERMANY; YOUNG adults; COVID-19 pandemic; SENSATION seeking; TEENAGERS; INTERNET surveys
- Publication
Sucht, 2024, Vol 70, Issue 3, p133
- ISSN
0939-5911
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1024/0939-5911/a000875