Perceived risk of harm from marijuana use among youth in the USA

Perceived risk or beliefs about the harmful effects of drugs is strongly as sociated with marijuana use, based on nationally representative surveys and several cross-sectional studies in the United States. A review of studies that have examined perceived risk showed that perceived risk can be constru ed as consisting of at least four areas (physical harm, parental disapprova l, peer disapproval and fear of arrest) and having several characteristics (e.g. locus of harm, level of use). Perceptions of risk vary with gender, a ge and other factors. Secondary data analysis based on the Monitoring the F uture surveys and the National Household Survey of Drug Abuse were consiste nt with these findings from the review. Specific recommendations for preven tion practitioners and researchers are presented.