Perceived Risk of Harm from Marijuana Use among Youth in the USA

Abstract

Perceived risk or beliefs about the harmful effects of drugs is strongly associated with marijuana use, based on nationally representative surveys and several cross-sectional studies in the United States. A review of studies that have examined perceived risk showed that perceived risk can be construed as consisting of at least four areas (physical harm, parental disapproval, peer disapproval and fear of arrest) and having several characteristics (e.g. locus of harm, level of use). Perceptions of risk vary with gender, age and other factors. Secondary data analysis based on the Monitoring the Future surveys and theNational Household Survey ofDrugAbuse were consistent with these findings from the review. Specific recommendations for prevention practitioners and researchers are presented.