Risk Factors for Past Month and Past Year Marijuana Use among a National Sample of Hispanic Youth

Background: Marijuana use rates remain higher among Hispanic youth compared with youth from other ethnic groups. The purpose of the present study was to examine if sex, age, authoritarian parenting, school experiences, lifetime depression, legal involvement, and perceived social norms of marijuana use predicted recent marijuana use and past year marijuana use among Hispanic youth. Methods: The participants of this study were a nationwide sample of Hispanic youth (N = 3,457). A secondary data analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was performed. Unadjusted odds ratios were computed via univariate logistic regression analyses and all significant variables were retained and included in the final multiple logistic regression analyses. Recent marijuana use was operationally defined as use within the past 30 days, and marijuana use in the past year was defined as use within the past year. Results: Results indicated that 7.5% of Hispanic youth used within the past month and 14.5% of Hispanic youth used within the past year. Results revealed that significant predictors for recent marijuana use were age, authoritarian parenting, school experiences, legal involvement, and perceived social norm regarding youth marijuana use. Regarding marijuana use in the past year, significant predictors were age, school experiences, legal involvement, and perceived social norms regarding youth marijuana use. Conclusions: Findings from this study can be used to address the public health problem of marijuana use among Hispanic youth that is ultimately contributing to health disparities among this ethnic group nationwide.  Recommendations for future studies are included.