Changes in cannabis use according to socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents from 2000 to 2015

Noora Knaappila,Sari Fröjd,Riittakerttu Kaltiala,Mauri Marttunen,Nina Lindberg

doi:10.1186/s42238-020-00052-y

Abstract

BackgroundDespite reduced sanctions and more permissive attitudes toward cannabis use in the USA and Europe, the prevalences of adolescent cannabis use have remained rather stable in the twenty-first century. However, whether trends in adolescent cannabis use differ between socioeconomic groups is not known. The aim of this study was to examine trends in cannabis use according to socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents from 2000 to 2015.MethodsA population-based school survey was conducted biennially among 14–16-year-old Finns between 2000 and 2015 (n = 761,278). Distributions for any and frequent cannabis use over time according to socioeconomic adversities were calculated using crosstabs and chi-square test. Associations between any and frequent cannabis use, time, and socioeconomic adversities were studied using binomial logistic regression results shown by odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsAt the overall level, the prevalences of lifetime and frequent cannabis use varied only slightly between 2000 and 2015. Cannabis use was associated with socioeconomic adversities (parental unemployment in the past year, low parental education, and not living with both parents). The differences in any and frequent cannabis use between socioeconomic groups increased significantly over the study period.ConclusionsAlthough the overall changes in the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use were modest, cannabis use increased markedly among adolescents with the most socioeconomic adversities. Socioeconomic adversities should be considered in the prevention of adolescent cannabis use.

Highlights

Despite reduced sanctions and more permissive attitudes toward cannabis use in the USA and Europe, the prevalences of adolescent cannabis use have remained rather stable in the twenty-first century
Any and frequent cannabis use were more common among girls and boys who did not live with both parents than among those who lived with both parents
Cannabis use was positively associated with parental unemployment: any and frequent cannabis use were most common among girls and boys whose both parents had been unemployed and least common among those whose parents had not been unemployed in the past year

Summary

Introduction

Despite reduced sanctions and more permissive attitudes toward cannabis use in the USA and Europe, the prevalences of adolescent cannabis use have remained rather stable in the twenty-first century. Whether trends in adolescent cannabis use differ between socioeconomic groups is not known. The aim of this study was to examine trends in cannabis use according to socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents from 2000 to 2015. The prevalence of cannabis use increased from the 1990s to the 2000s in the overall population, it seems to have leveled off in the 2010s (Karjalainen et al 2016; Varjonen 2012). Adolescent cannabis use is associated with social marginalization (Babor et al 1978; Dugré et al 2017; Varjonen 2012). In addition to individual suffering, drug-related harms cause substantial public expenditures, the largest parts in Finland going toward the enforcement of public order and safety, court and prison costs, and social services (Varjonen 2012)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion