Marijuana use was linked to gambling and gambling problems in high school students
Among over 25,000 high school students, marijuana use was associated with approximately twice the odds of both gambling and gambling problems, alongside alcohol and prescription drug misuse.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a study of 25,456 students across 58 Maryland high schools, one-third reported lifetime gambling and 10% experienced gambling problems (31% of gamblers). Being male and using alcohol, marijuana, and non-medical prescription drugs were each associated with approximately twice the odds of gambling.
Among those who gambled, being male, African American, and using cigarettes, marijuana, and prescription drugs were associated with higher odds of gambling problems specifically. School-level factors (suspension rates, demographics) showed minimal associations with gambling.
The co-occurrence of substance use and gambling among adolescents suggests these behaviors share common risk factors and may benefit from integrated prevention approaches.
Key Numbers
25,456 students in 58 schools. 33% lifetime gambling. 10% gambling problems. Marijuana use: approximately 2x odds of gambling. Alcohol: approximately 2x odds. School-level factors showed minimal effects.
How They Did This
Multilevel analysis of data from 25,456 students in 58 high schools participating in the Maryland Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative. Youth-reported demographics, gambling, and substance use were examined using weighted multilevel models.
Why This Research Matters
Gambling and substance use often cluster together in adolescents, yet prevention programs typically target them separately. Understanding their co-occurrence at the student and school level can inform more efficient prevention strategies.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that substance use predicted gambling more than school-level factors suggests that individual risk factors (or shared individual vulnerabilities) are more important than environmental context for gambling involvement among high schoolers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Self-reported gambling and substance use. Cannot determine whether substance use leads to gambling or vice versa. Maryland-specific findings may not generalize.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do shared genetic or personality factors underlie both gambling and marijuana use in teens?
- ?Would substance use prevention programs also reduce gambling?
- ?Does marijuana use specifically impair decision-making in ways that increase gambling risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Marijuana use: approximately 2x odds of gambling among high school students
- Evidence Grade:
- Large multilevel study with adequate statistical methods, though cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2014.
- Original Title:
- Examining potential school contextual influences on gambling among high school youth.
- Published In:
- The American journal on addictions, 23(5), 510-7 (2014)
- Authors:
- Lee, Grace P, Martins, Silvia S(20), Pas, Elise T, Bradshaw, Catherine P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00822
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is marijuana use linked to gambling in teenagers?
In this study of over 25,000 high schoolers, marijuana use was associated with approximately twice the odds of gambling involvement and gambling problems, alongside similar associations for alcohol and prescription drugs.
Why do substance use and gambling co-occur in teens?
The study could not determine causation, but the co-occurrence suggests shared risk factors such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, or environmental exposures. Prevention programs might benefit from targeting these overlapping risky behaviors together.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00822APA
Lee, Grace P; Martins, Silvia S; Pas, Elise T; Bradshaw, Catherine P. (2014). Examining potential school contextual influences on gambling among high school youth.. The American journal on addictions, 23(5), 510-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-0391.2014.12142.x
MLA
Lee, Grace P, et al. "Examining potential school contextual influences on gambling among high school youth.." The American journal on addictions, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-0391.2014.12142.x
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Examining potential school contextual influences on gambling..." RTHC-00822. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lee-2014-examining-potential-school-contextual
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.