Cannabis Use and Associated Risk Behavior Factors among High School Students in Mississippi: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2021

Abstract

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug among youths in the United States. The objectives of this study were to identify the association between cannabis use and other risk behaviors, including suicidality, among high school students. This is a cross-sectional study using the 2021 Mississippi Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS). The 2021 YRBS data sets were combined for this study. The crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval were generated using the survey packages in R to account for weights and the complex sampling design of the YRBS data. Univariate analysis identified seven risky behaviors that were significantly associated with current cannabis use, including carrying weapons on school campuses, suicidal attempts, electronic vapor use, current smoking, current drinking, sexual behaviors, and unsupervised children. In multivariable analysis, after adjusting for gender, race, students’ grades, and other risky behaviors, statistically significant variables for cannabis use included current use of electronic vapor, current smoking, current drinking, and sexual behaviors. Cannabis use is evenly burdened between males and females and between all race categories among Mississippi high school students. The identified associations seem to indicate that electronic vapor, tobacco products, and alcohol use could be the forerunners for drug use and should be treated accordingly in drug use prevention programs.