Caracterização do consumo de maconha entre escolares do ensino médio de São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil, 2003 Marijuana consumption among high school students in São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil, 2003

Abstract Objective:Objective: T his research aimed to studymarijuana consumption among highschool students in Sao Jose do Rio Preto,SP, Southeastern Brazil. Method:Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Sao Josedo Rio Preto. A self-completion question-naire was given to a proportional sampleof 1,041 teenagers enrolled in the 9 th, 10 th and 11 th grades of public schools. Results:The prevalence of marijuana consumptionwas: throughout life: 12.1%, in the pastyear: 7.4%, in the past month: 4.1%, and inthe past week: 2.9%. Marijuana consump-tion was more prevalent in male, nighttimestudents, married individuals, those whowork, those who do not have a religion ordo not practice it, and who does not livewith a father and/or mother. Excellent orgood relationship with parents and parentsliving together with a good relationshipwere associated with less prevalent mari-juana consumption. Students that experi-mented marijuana referred activities likewandering, going dancing, attending bars,and staying with boyfriend / girlfriendmore frequently as leisure activities, andreferred watching TV, going out with fam-ily and going to the movies less frequentlythan the population in general. Weekly al-cohol consumption and tobacco use wereassociated with higher marijuana experi-ence indices. Marijuana experience is as-sociated with greater amphetamine, hal-lucinogen, cocaine, and crack experienceindices. Conclusion:Conclusion: Marijuana consump-tion is associated with many variables.Family and religiosity may be protectivefactors against the marijuana experience,while family disharmony, tobacco andweekly alcohol use were associated withhigher marijuana consumption indices.Keywords: Consumption of marijuana.Students. Epidemiology. Family. Illicitdrugs. Substance-related disorders.