%0 Journal Article %J Subst Abus %D 2016 %T Prevalence of marijuana and other substance use before and after Washington State's change from legal medical marijuana to legal medical and nonmedical marijuana: Cohort comparisons in a sample of adolescents. %A Mason, W A %A Fleming, Charles B %A Ringle, Jay L %A Hanson, Koren %A Gross, Thomas J %A Haggerty, Kevin P %X

BACKGROUND: A growing number of states have new legislation extending prior legalization of medical marijuana by allowing nonmedical marijuana use for adults. The potential influence of this change in legislation on adolescent marijuana and other substance use (e.g., spillover or substitution effects) is uncertain. We capitalize on an ongoing study to explore the prevalence of marijuana and other substance use in 2 cohorts of adolescents who experienced the nonmedical marijuana law change in Washington State at different ages.

METHODS: Participants were 8th graders enrolled in targeted Tacoma, Washington public schools and recruited in 2 consecutive annual cohorts. The analysis sample was 238 students who completed a baseline survey in the 8th grade and a follow-up survey after the 9th grade. Between the 2 assessments, the second cohort experienced the Washington State nonmedical marijuana law change, whereas the first cohort did not. Self-report survey data on lifetime and past-month marijuana, cigarette, and alcohol use were collected.

RESULTS: Multivariate multilevel modeling showed that cohort differences in the likelihood of marijuana use were significantly different from those for cigarette and alcohol use at follow-up (adjusting for baseline substance initiation). Marijuana use was higher for the second cohort than the first cohort, but this difference was not statistically significant. Rates of cigarette and alcohol use were slightly lower in the second cohort than in the first cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study found that marijuana use was more prevalent among teens shortly after the transition from medical marijuana legalization only to medical and nonmedical marijuana legalization, although the difference between cohorts was not statistically significant. The findings also provided some evidence of substitution effects. The analytic technique used here may be useful for examining potential long-term effects of nonmedical marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use and substitution or spillover effects in future studies.

%B Subst Abus %V 37 %P 330-5 %8 2016 Apr-Jun %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26252354?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1080/08897077.2015.1071723 %0 Journal Article %J J Child Fam Stud %D 2015 %T Reducing risks for problem behaviors during the high school transition: Proximal outcomes in the Common Sense Parenting trial %A Mason, W A %A Fleming, Charles B %A Ringle, Jay L %A Thompson, Ronald W %A Haggerty, Kevin P %A Snyder, James J %X

This study tests Common Sense Parenting (CSP)®, a widely used parent-training program, in its standard form and in a modified form known as CSP Plus, with low-income 8(th) graders and their families during the high school transition. The six-session CSP program proximally targets parenting and child emotion regulation skills. CSP Plus adds two sessions that include youth, and the eight-session program further targets skills for avoiding negative peers and activities in high school. Over two cohorts, 321 families were enrolled and randomly assigned to either CSP, CSP Plus, or minimal-contact control conditions. To date, pretest and posttest assessments have been completed, with 93% retention over about a 6-month interval. Here, analyses of preliminary outcomes from pretest to posttest focus on data collected from parents, who represent the primary proximal intervention targets. Intent-to-treat structural equation modeling analyses were conducted. CSP and CSP Plus had statistically significant effects on increased parent-reported child emotion regulation skills. CSP Plus further showed a statistically significant effect on increased parent perceptions of their adolescent being prepared for high school, but only in a model that excluded the CSP condition. Neither program had a significant proximal effect on parenting practices. Emotion regulation, one indicator of self-control, is a robust protective factor against problem behaviors. Intervention effects on this outcome may translate into reduced problems during high school. Moreover, CSP Plus showed some limited signs of added value for preparing families for the high school transition.

%B J Child Fam Stud %V 24 %P 2568-2578 %8 2015 Sep 1 %G ENG %N 9 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26508822?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1007/s10826-014-0059-5 %0 Journal Article %J Subst Use Misuse %D 2015 %T Washington State recreational marijuana legalization: parent and adolescent perceptions, knowledge, and discussions in a sample of low-income families. %A Mason, W A %A Hanson, Koren %A Fleming, Charles B %A Ringle, Jay L %A Haggerty, Kevin P %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Family %K Female %K Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice %K Humans %K Knowledge %K Male %K Marijuana Smoking %K Parent-Child Relations %K Parents %K Perception %K Poverty %K Washington %X

BACKGROUND: In November 2012, Washington State and Colorado became the first states in the United States to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults, and Uruguay became the first country to allow the cultivation, distribution, possession, and use of marijuana. One possible consequence of these changes is increased adolescent marijuana use. Parents may mitigate this adverse consequence; however, whether parents and adolescents have accurate knowledge about the laws and are discussing marijuana use in light of the law changes is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: We examine perceptions, knowledge, and parent-child discussions about Washington State's recreational marijuana law in a sample of low-income families.

METHODS: Participants were a subset of families (n = 115) in an ongoing study that originally recruited parents and adolescents from middle schools in Tacoma, Washington. In summer 2013, when students were entering the 11(th) grade, students and their parents were asked questions about the recreational marijuana law.

RESULTS: Participants perceived that their marijuana-related attitudes and behaviors changed little as a result of the law, and displayed uncertainty about what is legal and illegal. Most parents reported discussing the new law with their children but only occasionally, and conversations emphasized household rules, particularly among parent lifetime marijuana users compared to non-users. Conclusions/Importance: Results suggest that there should be a public health campaign focused on families that provides clear information about the recreational marijuana laws.

%B Subst Use Misuse %V 50 %P 541-5 %8 2015 Apr %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25671633?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3109/10826084.2014.952447