Moderators of the association between marijuana and other drugs

This study examined selected potential moderators and mediators of the association between marijuana and other drugs. A sample of University of Texas at Austin students, 219 of whom were marijuana users and 47 of whom were non-marijuana users, filled out questionnaires that examined their use of various drugs, as well as their family backgrounds, levels of depression and anxiety, personalities, and peer relationships. Results indicated that peer influence and personalities related to behavioral disinhibition did not moderate or mediate the association between marijuana and other drugs. Peer influence was the strongest predictor of both marijuana and other drug use, and parenting styles, discipline, depression, and anxiety were not significantly associated with marijuana and drug use. Personality related to behavioral disinhibition was associated with drugs when singularly regressed onto measures of drug use, but not when simultaneously regressed onto drug use with marijuana use. Furthermore, participants in the current study used marijuana before they used other illicit drugs. The implications of these findings for substance abuse prevention and treatment are discussed and suggestions for teachers, psychologists and other mental health professionals working in these environments are offered.