O consumo de cannabis na adolescência: dados de um estudo português

Abstract

This paper aims to characterise the use of cannabis across adolescence and assess its medium term consequences in large sample of Portuguese youths. Data were drawn from a ongoing longitudinal research that involved several hundred of pupils followed up from childhood to late adolescence. Results showed that cannabis use is a low prevalence behaviour among Portuguese preadolescents, regularly increases with age, has a weak to moderate temporal stability; and is strongly associated with other forms of licit drugs use. However, it does not negatively affect academic achievement, nor increases the risk of mental health problems; the only domain where cannabis users had poorer outcomes than their abstinent peers were antisocial behaviours and other substances use at the end of adolescence. Finally, no significant differences were found between early onset and later onset cannabis use. These findings were discussed against the background of the latest research developments on cannabis use across adolescence.