Association Between Cannabis Smoking and Academic Achievement in High-School Students

Abstract

Background: Cannabis smoking can affect academic achievement, and depressive symptoms and family dysfunction are also associated with it. The study’s objective was to establish the relationship between cannabis smoking and academic achievement, linked to clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed. The authors quantified lifetime cannabis smoking, perception of academic achievement, clinically important depressive symptoms, and family dysfunction. The crude association between cannabis smoking and academic achievement was computed; after it was adjusted by clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction. Results: 1,462 students between 13 and 17 participated in the research; 11.6% reported lifetime cannabis smoking, 30.8% poor-fair academic achievement; 7.1% clinically important depressive symptoms; and 76.1% family dysfunction. Lifetime cannabis smoking was significantly associated with poor-fair academic achievement after adjusting for clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction (OR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.16 - 2.24). Conclusion: Lifetime cannabis smoking is related to poor-fair academic achievement among high-school students in Santa Marta, Colombia.