Italian school survey finds cannabis use at age 14-15 linked to 26-fold higher risk of using other drugs
Among 3,805 Italian students aged 9-17, cannabis use at ages 14-15 was associated with a dramatically higher likelihood of also using new psychoactive substances.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use at ages 14-15 was associated with a 26-fold increased risk of using new psychoactive substances or non-prescribed drugs (OR 26.3, 95% CI 15.97-43.33).
Key Numbers
3,805 students surveyed; cannabis use at 14-15 associated with OR 26.3 for NPS/NPD use; 53% of 14-15-year-olds and 68% of 16-17-year-olds hid substance use from parents and psychologists.
How They Did This
Anonymous questionnaire administered to 3,805 students aged 9-17 across 14 schools in the Genoa metropolitan area of Italy between December 2021 and May 2022. Logistic regression assessed associations between substance use and psychological outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
The strength of the association between early cannabis use and subsequent use of other substances in this large school-based sample adds to the evidence on adolescent substance use patterns and potential gateway effects.
The Bigger Picture
These findings from Italian schools mirror patterns seen globally: early adolescent cannabis use clusters with use of other substances, and the majority of young users do not disclose their use to adults.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design prevents determining causation. Anonymous self-report may still underestimate use. Single metropolitan area limits generalizability. No control for confounding factors like socioeconomic status or family environment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does the strong statistical association reflect a causal pathway, shared risk factors, or simply co-occurring behaviors?
- ?Would school-based prevention programs change these patterns?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 26x higher risk of NPS use among 14-15-year-old cannabis users
- Evidence Grade:
- Large sample size but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 with data from the 2021-2022 school year.
- Original Title:
- Alcohol, smoke, cannabis, new psychoactive substances, and non-prescribed drugs consumption among school student in an area of Nord-West of Italy.
- Published In:
- Minerva gastroenterology, 68(4), 421-425 (2022)
- Authors:
- Balbinot, Patrizia, Pellicano, Rinaldo, Testino, Gianni
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03688
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What age group showed the strongest association between cannabis and other drug use?
The 14-15 age group showed the strongest link, with cannabis users 26 times more likely to also use new psychoactive substances or non-prescribed drugs.
How many students hid their substance use from adults?
Among 14-15-year-olds, 53% did not tell parents or psychologists about their use. Among 16-17-year-olds, that figure rose to 68%.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03688APA
Balbinot, Patrizia; Pellicano, Rinaldo; Testino, Gianni. (2022). Alcohol, smoke, cannabis, new psychoactive substances, and non-prescribed drugs consumption among school student in an area of Nord-West of Italy.. Minerva gastroenterology, 68(4), 421-425. https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5985.22.03253-3
MLA
Balbinot, Patrizia, et al. "Alcohol, smoke, cannabis, new psychoactive substances, and non-prescribed drugs consumption among school student in an area of Nord-West of Italy.." Minerva gastroenterology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5985.22.03253-3
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Alcohol, smoke, cannabis, new psychoactive substances, and n..." RTHC-03688. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/balbinot-2022-alcohol-smoke-cannabis-new
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.