Sex Differences in the Association Between School Experiences and Marijuana Use Among African American Adolescents

This study examined whether past month marijuana use among African American adolescents differed based on school experiences and individual feelings toward school. A secondary analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted to answer research questions. Results from the multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that female students at highest risk for recent use included those who held negative feelings toward school (OR 2.723, CI 1.683, 4.406, p<.001), felt courses were not interesting (OR 2.695, CI 1.513, 4.798, p<.01), and received mostly C's/D's/ F's in the last semester (OR 2.520, CI 1.614, 6.711,p<.001). For males, results indicated that male students at highest risk included those who held negative feelings toward school (OR 2.364, CI 1.365, 4.094, p<.01), felt things learned in school would not be important later in life (OR 3.470, CI 1.951, 6.173, p<.001), and received mostly C's/ D's/F's in the last semester (OR 2.733, CI 1.734, 4.309, p<.001). In the final model, of those who felt that most or all students in their grade used marijuana, males were 3 1/2 times (OR 3.418, CI 1.741, 6.711, p<.001) and females were 8 times (OR 8.288, CI 3.526, 19.480, p<.001) more likely to have recently used marijuana. Such findings can be used by prevention specialists and health educators to develop and implement marijuana prevention programs and interventions specifically tailored to African American adolescents. Recommendations for future research are included.