OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to study marijuana consumption among high school students in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in São José do Rio Preto. A self-completion questionnaire was given to a proportional sample of 1,041 teenagers enrolled in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades of public schools. RESULTS: The prevalence of marijuana consumption was: throughout life: 12.1%, in the past year: 7.4%, in the past month: 4.1%, and in the past week: 2.9%. Marijuana consumption was more prevalent in male, nighttime students, married individuals, those who work, those who do not have a religion or do not practice it, and who does not live with a father and/or mother. Excellent or good relationship with parents and parents living together with a good relationship were associated with less prevalent marijuana consumption. Students that experimented marijuana referred activities like wandering, going dancing, attending bars, and staying with boyfriend / girlfriend more frequently as leisure activities, and referred watching TV, going out with family and going to the movies less frequently than the population in general. Weekly alcohol consumption and tobacco use were associated with higher marijuana experience indices. Marijuana experience is associated with greater amphetamine, hallucinogen, cocaine, and crack experience indices. CONCLUSION: Marijuana consumption is associated with many variables. Family and religiosity may be protective factors against the marijuana experience, while family disharmony, tobacco and weekly alcohol use were associated with higher marijuana consumption indices.
Consumption of marijuana; Students; Epidemiology; Family; Illicit drugs; Substance-related disorders
