Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the perception of harm and benefits of marijuana associated with the use of marijuana in high school students aged between 15 and 17 years. Method: quantitative, transversal, descriptive and correlational design. The sample consisted of 268 students from public educational institutions between the ages of 15 and 17 years from five communes in the Chilean province of Concepción. The independent variables were biodemographic (sex, age and course), age of onset, use of marijuana in friends, perception of harm and benefits, and intention to use marijuana). The dependent variables were use (smoking) of marijuana (prevalence of life, in the last 12 months and in the last 30 days). Data collection instrument consisted of a semi-structured questionnaire in base of the CICAD Uniform Inter-American Data System for high school students; Monitoring The Future; and Risk Perception. Self-applied instrument with prior consent of the parents and agreement of the students. Results: slightly more than half (54%) of the students reported never having smoked marijuana, but 46% have ever used some in their lives. There is a moderated-negative weak correlation between harm perception and marijuana use. It is also observed a moderated-negative weak correlation between benefit perception and marijuana use. Statistically significant correlations Conclusion: just under half of the students between 15 and 17 years old declare to consume marijuana, an alarming result due to the negative effects of marijuana. Furthermore, they perceive low levels of damage produced by the use of marijuana, and the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is seen in a favorable position. A comprehensive policy of effective drug prevention at community, family and personal level is imperative.
Highlights
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that approximately 3.8% of the world’s population uses marijuana.[1]
The Organization of American States, in turn, reported that on the continent, the school population of Chile has a higher consumption of marijuana with a higher prevalence (28%) compared to that of the hemisphere (16.52%).[4]
The results showed that 43.7% of the students from eighth basic grade to fourth grade report having used marijuana at least once in their lives, 34.2% in the last year and 20.1% in the last month.[5]
Summary
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that approximately 3.8% of the world’s population uses marijuana.[1]. The Organization of American States, in turn, reported that on the continent, the school population of Chile has a higher consumption of marijuana with a higher prevalence (28%) compared to that of the hemisphere (16.52%).[4]. The study of drugs in the Chilean school population, reported higher prevalences. The results showed that 43.7% of the students from eighth basic grade to fourth grade (high school) report having used marijuana at least once in their lives, 34.2% in the last year and 20.1% in the last month.[5] There was a decrease in the perception of risk, students consider that using marijuana does not affect their health and there is a tendency to marijuana consumption, behavior that affects their quality of life.[6]
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