Peer influence on marijuana use among adolescents in Novi Sad

Introduction. Cannabis use in adolescence has a major impact on the individual, family and community, whereas the effects are cumulative and contribute to social, physical and mental problems. Socializing with peers who use psychoactive substances can significantly increase the likelihood of adolescent cannabis use. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents in Novi Sad, as well as the differences in prevalence depending on the risky behavior of their friends depending on the relationships between them. Material and Methods. The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study in 2017 and included 1,067 first-grade students from 19 high schools in Novi Sad. The research instrument was a questionnaire of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Results. The prevalence of marijuana abuse in Novi Sad was 12% and it was twice higher among students from the city (13.1%) or suburban areas (13.6%) than in students from villages (5.8%) (p < 0.05). Marijuana use was significantly more prevalent among students whose most/all friends smoked (23.1%) than among those whose friends did not smoke (10.1%) or only a few smoked (5.5%) (p < 0.001). Respondents whose friends use alcohol were significantly more likely to use marijuana (15.2%) than those who have only a few such friends (6.4%) or none (10.5%) (p < 0.001). More than half of students whose friends use marijuana have tried it (54%), while among those who do not have such friends, only 3% have used marijuana (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The prevalence of marijuana use in adolescents in Novi Sad is high. Peer risk behaviors influence adolescent cannabis use.