Title | Perceived prevalence of peer marijuana use: changes among college students before and after Oregon recreational marijuana legalization. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Koval, AL, Kerr, DCR, Bae, H |
Journal | Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse |
Volume | 45 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 392-399 |
Date Published | 04/2019 |
ISSN | 1097-9891 |
Abstract | BackgroundOregon students' rates of marijuana use have increased following recreational marijuana legalization (RML), but the relation between RML and students' perceived peer use of marijuana - or descriptive norms - is unknown. ObjectivesThis study examined whether perceived peer use of marijuana changed more following RML for college students in Oregon than in states without RML. MethodsRepeated cross-sectional data were collected from the National College Health Assessment-II surveys from 2008 to 2016 to assess changes in descriptive norms ("Within the last 30 days, what percent of students at your school used marijuana?") among 18-26 year-old undergraduates from two Oregon institutions and 123 institutions in non-RML states (N = 280,006; 66.23% female; 33.19% male) following Oregon RML (7/1/2015). Mixed-effects regressions were used to account for clustering at the institutional level; models controlled for covariates and secular changes in descriptive norms. ResultsRML was associated with higher perceived rates of marijuana use by peers [Percent Increase = 3.09, p < .001]. The effect was significant for respondents who had never used marijuana [Percent Increase = 3.72, p < .001], but not for respondents who recently or ever previously used marijuana. Respondents who had recently used marijuana had higher descriptive norms than those who had never used [Percent Increase = 12.83, p < .001]. ConclusionsGiven the association between descriptive norms and personal use, RML-related increases in descriptive norms among non-using students could contribute to future marijuana use initiation and may be one mechanism linking RML with higher rates of marijuana use among college students. |
DOI | 10.1080/00952990.2019.1599381 |
Alternate Journal | Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse |
PubMed ID | 30990356 |