Trajectories of Marijuana Use from Adolescence to Adulthood Predicting Unemployment in the Mid 30s

Overview

Journal Am J Addict

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2015 May 9

PMID 25955962

Citations 15

Authors

Jung Yeon Lee

Judith S Brook

Stephen J Finch

David W Brook

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objectives: Unemployment (5.5% as of 2015) is a serious social and economic problem in our society. Since marijuana use is an important factor related to unemployment, identifying the trajectory of the use of marijuana may aid intervention programs and research on unemployment.

Methods: Six hundred seventy-four participants (53% African-Americans, 47% Puerto Ricans) were surveyed (60% females) from ages 14 to 36. The first data collection was held when the participants were students attending schools in the East Harlem area of New York City.

Results: We found that the chronic marijuana use (OR = 4.07, p < .001; AOR = 2.58, p < .05) and the late marijuana quitter (OR = 2.91, p < .05) trajectory groups were associated with an increased likelihood of unemployment compared with the no marijuana use trajectory group.

Conclusions And Scientific Significance: The results suggest that those who use marijuana chronically are at greater risk for being unemployed. Consequently, these individuals should have access to and participate in marijuana cessation treatment programs in order to reduce their risk of unemployment. Unemployment intervention programs should also consider focusing on the cessation of the use of marijuana to decrease the likelihood of later unemployment.

Citing Articles

The Effects of Adolescent Cannabis Use on Psychosocial Functioning: A Critical Review of the Evidence.

Schaefer J, Nelson K, Wilson S Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2023; 46(4):677-689.

PMID: 37879831 PMC: 11113564. DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2023.03.011.

Latent triple trajectories of substance use as predictors for the onset of antisocial personality disorder among urban African American and Puerto Rican adults: A 22-year longitudinal study.

Lee J, Pahl K, Kim W Subst Abus. 2022; 43(1):442-450.

PMID: 35073243 PMC: 9250113. DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1946890.

Young Adults With Higher Motives and Expectancies of Regular Cannabis Use Show Poorer Psychosocial Functioning.

Amiet D, Youssef G, Hagg L, Lorenzetti V, Parkes L, Solowij N Front Psychiatry. 2021; 11:599365.

PMID: 33384630 PMC: 7771276. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599365.

Social and public health implications of the legalisation of recreational cannabis: A literature review.

Mokwena K Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2019; 11(1):e1-e6.

PMID: 31793317 PMC: 6890535. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.2136.

The impact of recreational marijuana legalization on rates of use and behavior: A 10-year comparison of two cohorts from high school to young adulthood.

Stormshak E, Caruthers A, Gau J, Winter C Psychol Addict Behav. 2019; 33(7):595-602.

PMID: 31424245 PMC: 6856398. DOI: 10.1037/adb0000508.

References

Fergusson D, Boden J . Cannabis use and later life outcomes. Addiction. 2008; 103(6):969-76. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02221.x. View

Levin K, Copersino M, Heishman S, Liu F, Kelly D, Boggs D . Cannabis withdrawal symptoms in non-treatment-seeking adult cannabis smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010; 111(1-2):120-7. PMC: 2930056. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.04.010. View

Frost L, Mostofsky E, Rosenbloom J, Mukamal K, Mittleman M . Marijuana use and long-term mortality among survivors of acute myocardial infarction. Am Heart J. 2013; 165(2):170-5. PMC: 3558923. DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2012.11.007. View

Giladi H, Scott W, Shir Y, Sullivan M . Rates and Correlates of Unemployment Across Four Common Chronic Pain Diagnostic Categories. J Occup Rehabil. 2015; 25(3):648-57. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-015-9572-7. View

Virtanen P, Janlert U, Hammarstrom A . Health status and health behaviour as predictors of the occurrence of unemployment and prolonged unemployment. Public Health. 2012; 127(1):46-52. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.10.016. View

Callaghan R, Allebeck P, Sidorchuk A . Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: a 40-year cohort study. Cancer Causes Control. 2013; 24(10):1811-20. DOI: 10.1007/s10552-013-0259-0. View

Finlay A, White H, Mun E, Cronley C, Lee C . Racial differences in trajectories of heavy drinking and regular marijuana use from ages 13 to 24 among African-American and White males. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011; 121(1-2):118-23. PMC: 3258364. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.08.020. View

Cerda M, Wall M, Keyes K, Galea S, Hasin D . Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011; 120(1-3):22-7. PMC: 3251168. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.06.011. View

Sieurin L, Josephson M, Vingard E . Positive and negative consequences of sick leave for the individual, with special focus on part-time sick leave. Scand J Public Health. 2009; 37(1):50-6. DOI: 10.1177/1403494808097171. View

10.

Kroll L, Lampert T . Changing health inequalities in Germany from 1994 to 2008 between employed and unemployed adults. Int J Public Health. 2011; 56(3):329-39. DOI: 10.1007/s00038-011-0233-0. View

11.

Olesen S, Butterworth P, Leach L, Kelaher M, Pirkis J . Mental health affects future employment as job loss affects mental health: findings from a longitudinal population study. BMC Psychiatry. 2013; 13:144. PMC: 3681556. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-144. View

12.

Schulenberg J, Merline A, Johnston L, OMalley P, Bachman J, Laetz V . Trajectories of Marijuana Use During the Transition to Adulthood: The Big Picture Based on National Panel Data. J Drug Issues. 2006; 35(2):255-279. PMC: 1400593. DOI: 10.1177/002204260503500203. View

13.

Mays D, Gilman S, Rende R, Luta G, Tercyak K, Niaura R . Parental smoking exposure and adolescent smoking trajectories. Pediatrics. 2014; 133(6):983-91. PMC: 4035590. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3003. View

14.

Benyamina A, Lecacheux M, Blecha L, Reynaud M, Lukasiewcz M . Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in cannabis withdrawal and dependence. Expert Rev Neurother. 2008; 8(3):479-91. DOI: 10.1586/14737175.8.3.479. View

15.

Brook J, Lee J, Finch S, Seltzer N, Brook D . Adult work commitment, financial stability, and social environment as related to trajectories of marijuana use beginning in adolescence. Subst Abus. 2013; 34(3):298-305. PMC: 3711606. DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2013.775092. View

16.

Ledgerwood D, Goldberger B, Risk N, Lewis C, Price R . Comparison between self-report and hair analysis of illicit drug use in a community sample of middle-aged men. Addict Behav. 2008; 33(9):1131-9. PMC: 2495080. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.04.009. View

17.

Hultin H, Lindholm C, Moller J . Is there an association between long-term sick leave and disability pension and unemployment beyond the effect of health status?--a cohort study. PLoS One. 2012; 7(4):e35614. PMC: 3338415. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035614. View

18.

Compton W, Gfroerer J, Conway K, Finger M . Unemployment and substance outcomes in the United States 2002-2010. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014; 142:350-3. PMC: 4127107. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.06.012. View

19.

Sabates R, Harris A, Staff J . Ambition gone awry: the long-term socioeconomic consequences of misaligned and uncertain ambitions in adolescence. Soc Sci Q. 2011; 92(4):959-77. View

20.

Floderus B, Goransson S, Alexanderson K, Aronsson G . Self-estimated life situation in patients on long-term sick leave. J Rehabil Med. 2005; 37(5):291-9. DOI: 10.1080/16501970510034422. View