Potential Marijuana Prevention Programs for Hispanic Communities

Abstract

Marijuana and use of other illicit substances is an increasing major public health problem in developed and developing countries in the world. Studies on Hispanics, African-Americans, and other adolescent immigrants in the United States (US) have shown that this problem in this age group greatly increasing. Various studies and preventive approaches have been tried in the US to prevent the associated adverse health outcomes. However, some of these preventive approached which have employed have had limited success on marijuana use among adolescents in the US. However, this problem of marijuana and other illicit substance use continue to grow both in developed countries like the US and developing countries including like Tanzania. Globally, marijuana is locally grown in some parts of urban and rural areas and the stuff is being used most by the adolescents and young adults as it is cheap and easy to get it. Among young adolescents, global use of illicit substances is causing a lot of damages to their physical health, mental health, and social well-being. Physical evidences are vivid from street boys and gangster mobs around most cities/streets. Thus, preventive programs (interventions) need to be tailored to the particular needs of this age groups (youths and adolescents) and should address the key determinants that predict subsequent use in a manner that are culturally appropriate and responsive to the environment in which these young people live.