LINKS BETWEEN MATERNAL AND ADOLESCENTS’ CANNABIS USE AMONG THE INUIT OF NUNAVIK

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Inuit from Nunavik, Northern Quebec, show some of the highest prevalence of cannabis use in the world, particularly for youths. Based on the ecological system theory, family (the more proximal unit to adolescents) is susceptible to influence their behaviors the most. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine, among the Inuit population from Nunavik, the association between maternal use of cannabis and the subsequent use of this substance by their children while adolescents. DESIGN/METHODS This study was based on longitudinal data from the Nunavik Child Development Study (endorsed by community and public health stakeholders; approved by ethic research boards from 2 North American Universities). We use data from two follow-ups, between 2005 and 2010 (T1: time 1 – children aged between 8–15 years-old), and between 2012 and 2016 (T2: time 2 – adolescents aged 16–21 years-old). Structured interviews were used to assess cannabis use and other concomitant variables among mothers at T1, and for adolescents at T2. Our final sample included 184 mother-adolescent dyads. Hypotheses that exposure to an increased frequency of maternal cannabis use at the end of childhood will be associated with 1) earlier initiation of cannabis during adolescence, and 2) will increase the frequency of cannabis use by youths, were tested with Cox regression analyses and ordinal regressions, taking into account socioeconomic status (T1), gender, and student status of adolescents(T2). RESULTS About seven out of ten Inuit adolescent participants reported having used cannabis during the previous year of T2, and about 45% of users consumed daily. Among the adolescents who answered the initiation age question, 60% had used it before reaching 14 years. Associations between mother’s frequency of cannabis use at T1 and 1) adolescents’ initiation age to cannabis and 2) adolescents’ frequency of cannabis use were not statistically significant. Higher socioeconomic status and student status were associated with lower risk of cannabis use by youths. CONCLUSION Among a group of adolescents where cannabis use is highly prevalent, we were unable to highlight the impact from maternal substance use on subsequent behavior of their children while adolescents. Yet, key determinants already known to influence cannabis use among southern populations seem to be also relevant to the Inuit population from Nunavik. Common Aboriginal wisdom that it takes a village to raise a child seems to apply to cannabis use as well.