PATHWAYS TO MARIJUANA USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS - CULTURAL ECOLOGICAL, FAMILY, PEER, AND PERSONALITY INFLUENCES/

Objective: To examine the linkages, cultural/ecological factors, and m ajor psychosocial risk factors as they relate to drug use in a sample from Colombia, South America. Method: The participants were 1,687 adol escents living in mixed urban-rural communities in Colombia, South Ame rica. An individual interview was administered to youths in their home s by Colombian interviewers. The scales used were based on item interc orrelations grouped into the following risk categories: (1) adolescent personality, (2) family traits, (3) peer factors, and (4) cultural/ec ological variables. Results: Pearson correlations were computed for ea ch variable and the frequency of marijuana use. Results show that each of the domains was related to adolescent marijuana use, with some not able gender differences. As regards the interrelation of domains, a me diational model was operative. Conclusions: Findings support a family interactional theory. The domains of family, personality, and peer fac tors had a direct effect on the adolescents' marijuana use. Implicatio ns for prevention are also addressed.