Extracurricular activities can lower teen cannabis use
Teens involved in sports, artistic pursuits, or volunteering are less likely to use cannabis, a new UCC-led survey has found.
The Planet Youth 2020 – Growing Up in the West survey analysed responses from close to 5,000 adolescents from across 81 secondary schools and ten Youthreach centres in the west of Ireland.
It found that almost one in five (18.5%) reported previous cannabis use, with 7.5% having had used cannabis within the past month.
Teens from across Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon were provided with a survey of 73 questions across a number of themes, including their self-reported physical and mental well-being, substance use, familial and peer-related factors, the school environment, internet and screen usage, leisure time activities, and experiences of bullying.
The responses indicated that adolescent cannabis use was more likely among those who had stayed outside after midnight in the previous week, as well as among those who reported a lack of parental rule-setting, and a lack of parental monitoring.
The survey was undertaken by the School of Medicine and School of Public Health at UCC in conjunction with the Department of Public Health HSE South West and Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force and has been published in the journal Public Health.
The study’s first author Dr Fionn Daly said: “Although adolescent cannabis use is a significant public health concern, there is limited evidence on how the home environment and involvement in extracurricular activities correlate with teenage cannabis use in Ireland.”
Previous research from 2019 has shown that Irish adolescents have a higher-than-average lifetime prevalence of cannabis use in comparison to 34 other European nations.
According to the experts at UCC, the likelihood of developing cannabis use disorder is most pronounced among those who initiate cannabis use during adolescence, and persistent cannabis use has been linked with adverse health outcomes. These can include impaired learning performance, cardiovascular disorders, and the development of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
Commenting on the survey’s findings, study lead Dr Peter Barrett said: “Our research suggests that the use of cannabis remains relatively common among adolescents in Ireland. Social environment factors related to cannabis use, both within the home and in the wider community, identified in this study, may provide valuable insights for primary prevention interventions which require action at a grassroots level.”
The report’s authors highlighted how efforts to reduce cannabis use among teens in Iceland have been successful, with the introduction of a prepaid recreation card increasing the number of adolescents there involved in extracurricular activities, with a reduction of cannabis use observed over the same period.
The authors suggest that a pre-paid card to be used against the cost of recreational activities here in Ireland could boost the numbers of teens involved in extracurricular activities by removing financial barriers to participation. They warn, however, that teens in rural areas have less choice compared to those living in rural areas, particularly for those who are not interested in sports.