School Discipline Style Did Not Directly Affect Student Cannabis Use in Canada
None of the school cannabis disciplinary approaches studied were directly associated with student cannabis use, but students at supportive schools were more likely to perceive their school as helpful and less likely to use cannabis.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Across 131 Canadian schools and 68,037 students, no school discipline style (permissive, authoritarian, etc.) was directly associated with cannabis use. However, students at permissive/supportive schools were more likely to perceive their school as supportive for substance use prevention, and students who perceived their school as supportive were less likely to use cannabis.
Key Numbers
68,037 students; 131 Canadian secondary schools; grades 9-12; first school year after legalization
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of school- and student-level data from Year 7 (2018/2019) of the COMPASS study. Schools were classified by administrator-reported disciplinary approaches to first-offense cannabis violations.
Why This Research Matters
This was the first year after cannabis legalization in Canada. Understanding whether school discipline approaches affect student cannabis use has direct policy implications for how schools should respond.
The Bigger Picture
Punitive approaches to school cannabis policy may not reduce use, but supportive approaches that make students feel helped rather than punished appear to have an indirect protective effect through changing perceptions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. School classification based on administrator reports may not reflect actual implementation. One-year snapshot post-legalization.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would longitudinal data show that supportive discipline reduces cannabis use over time?
- ?Do the indirect effects through perception translate into meaningful differences in use rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 68,037 students across 131 Canadian schools
- Evidence Grade:
- Very large sample with school-level classification, but cross-sectional design and indirect pathway to cannabis use outcomes.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022
- Original Title:
- The Relations between Youth Cannabis Use, School Cannabis Use-Related Disciplinary Approaches and Student Perceptions of School Support.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 57(6), 897-910 (2022)
- Authors:
- Magier, Megan J, Leatherdale, Scott T(10), Wade, Terrance J, Patte, Karen A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04026
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does strict school discipline reduce student cannabis use?
This study found no direct association between any school disciplinary approach and student cannabis use. However, students at supportive schools perceived their school as more helpful, which was linked to lower use.
What school approach works best for cannabis prevention?
The study suggested supportive approaches (counseling referrals, educational programs) may work indirectly by making students feel supported, which was associated with lower cannabis use, while punitive approaches showed no direct benefit.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04026APA
Magier, Megan J; Leatherdale, Scott T; Wade, Terrance J; Patte, Karen A. (2022). The Relations between Youth Cannabis Use, School Cannabis Use-Related Disciplinary Approaches and Student Perceptions of School Support.. Substance use & misuse, 57(6), 897-910. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2022.2052097
MLA
Magier, Megan J, et al. "The Relations between Youth Cannabis Use, School Cannabis Use-Related Disciplinary Approaches and Student Perceptions of School Support.." Substance use & misuse, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2022.2052097
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Relations between Youth Cannabis Use, School Cannabis Us..." RTHC-04026. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/magier-2022-the-relations-between-youth
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.