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Inequality and adolescent cannabis use: A qualitative comparative analysis of the link at national level

Stevens, Alex (2016) Inequality and adolescent cannabis use: A qualitative comparative analysis of the link at national level. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 23 (5). pp. 410-421. ISSN 0968-7637. E-ISSN 1465-3370. (doi:10.3109/09687637.2015.1136266) (KAR id:54258)

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Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09687637.2015.1136266

Abstract

Aim: This article explores the link between income inequality and adolescent cannabis use at the national level, in the context of other relevant social conditions, in developed countries. Methods and data: Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis is applied to two data sets that contain information on the national prevalence of past year cannabis use among 15 and 16 year olds, taken from the ESPAD and HBSC surveys, with supplementary data from the MtF and ASSAD surveys for the USA and Australia (n?=?97 for the ESPAD and n?=?72 for the HBSC data set). The data sets also include data on national rates of income inequality (Gini coefficient), wealth (GDP per head), welfare support (average benefit replacement rates), urbanization and labour market conditions (youth unemployment). Findings: The combination of high inequality and high urbanization forms part of configurations that are consistent with being usually sufficient to cause high-adolescent cannabis use, alongside high GDP per head in the ESPAD data set, and low welfare support in the HBSC data set. Conclusion: Social conditions, and particularly the combination of income inequality and urbanization, should be considered when studying the causation of high levels of adolescent cannabis use at the national level in developed countries.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3109/09687637.2015.1136266
Uncontrolled keywords: Adolescence; cannabis; international comparison; qualitative research; teenager; youth and drugs
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Lisa Towers
Date Deposited: 23 Feb 2016 12:34 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 13:33 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54258 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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