Emotional Problems Predicted Which Justice-Involved Teens Started Using Cannabis | Research

The takeaway

Among 391 first-time justice-involved youth, affect dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and positive cannabis expectations independently predicted cannabis initiation in the year following first court contact.

Juvenile justice professionals, adolescent prevention researchers, school counselors

Affect dysregulation and internalizing symptoms independently predicted cannabis initiation in justice-involved youth

What the researchers found

Of 391 first-time justice-involved youth, 48.1% had lifetime cannabis use and 14.8% initiated during 12-month follow-up. In multivariable analyses, affect dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and positive cannabis expectancies independently predicted new cannabis initiation, while greater self-control and self-concept were protective.

Why it matters

First contact with the justice system represents a unique intervention window. Identifying which youth are most likely to start using cannabis can guide targeted prevention efforts during this critical period.

The numbers in context

391 youth; 56.9% male; mean age 14.6; 48.1% lifetime cannabis use; 14.8% initiated during follow-up; affect dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and positive cannabis expectancies predicted initiation; self-control and self-concept were protective.

How the study worked

Prospective cohort of 391 first-time justice-involved youth (56.9% male, mean age 14.6) and caregivers assessed at baseline and every 4 months for 12 months, using multivariable Poisson regression and survival analysis.

What this study cannot tell us

First-time justice-involved youth may not represent all adolescents; relatively low initiation rate (14.8%) limits statistical power for subgroup analyses; self-reported cannabis use.

How to read the evidence

Prospective design with multiple follow-up assessments and multivariable analysis, limited by sample specificity.

When this study was published

Published in 2021 with 12-month follow-up.

The bigger picture

The finding that emotional regulation difficulties and internalizing symptoms predict cannabis initiation suggests these youth may be self-medicating, and interventions targeting emotional coping skills could prevent cannabis use more effectively than punitive approaches.

Questions still open

Would emotion regulation interventions at first court contact reduce cannabis initiation? Do positive cannabis expectancies respond to targeted educational approaches?

Common questions

What predicts which teenagers start using cannabis?

Among first-time justice-involved youth, emotional regulation difficulties, internalizing symptoms (like anxiety and depression), and believing cannabis will have positive effects predicted starting to use cannabis. Higher self-control and better self-concept were protective.

Is there a window to prevent cannabis use in these teens?

Yes. The period after first court contact represents a unique opportunity for intervention, and this study identified specific targets (emotion regulation, cannabis expectations) that could be addressed through brief interventions.

Read the original research

Predictors of cannabis use among first-time justice-involved youth: A cohort study.

Drug and alcohol dependence, 225, 108754

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Tolou-Shams, Marina; Folk, Johanna B; Marshall, Brandon D L; Dauria, Emily F; Kemp, Kathleen; Li, Yu; Koinis-Mitchell, Daphne; Brown, Larry K. (2021). Predictors of cannabis use among first-time justice-involved youth: A cohort study.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 225, 108754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108754