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The At-risk Adolescent Marijuana Nonuser: Expanding the Standard Distinction

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Abstract

This research expands the user/nonuser dichotomy commonly used in research on marijuana. By conceptualizing nonusers as homogeneous, vital nuances in susceptibility to risk and protective factors may be overlooked. Research operations tested the predictive validity of a brief measure that divided nonusers into resolute and vulnerable subcategories; determined whether variables that distinguished nonusers and users were more informative when a tripartite classification was used; and with an eye on future prevention, examined variables on which resolute nonusers were similar to vulnerable nonusers or users, and on which they differed from both. A nationally representative sample of respondents (N = 2,111; ages 12–16 years) from the National Survey of Parents and Youth was used in this secondary analysis. Panel data gathered yearly over four rounds included information on intentions and use of marijuana and other illicit substances, along with social, demographic, intrapersonal, and parental variables. The three groups differed significantly on associates’ marijuana use, participants’ approval of others’ use, and cigarette and alcohol use. Resolute nonusers differed from vulnerable nonusers and users alike on religiosity, delinquency (self and friends’), refusal strength, sensation seeking, parental monitoring and warmth, and adult supervision. Results support the utility of distinguishing vulnerable from resolute nonusers, counsel against considering nonusers as a homogeneous group, and provide insight into variables that might prove useful in future prevention efforts.

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Acknowledgements

Preparation of this research was supported by a grant from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (5R01DA020879-02). The contents of this paper are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute. We also acknowledge Justin Hackett, Neil Patel, Jessica Skenderian, and Sarah Ting for their assistance at various phases of this research.

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC, May, 2007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA

    William D. Crano, Jason T. Siegel, Eusebio M. Alvaro, Andrew Lac & Vanessa Hemovich

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  1. William D. Crano
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  2. Jason T. Siegel
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  3. Eusebio M. Alvaro
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  4. Andrew Lac
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  5. Vanessa Hemovich
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Correspondence to William D. Crano.

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Crano, W.D., Siegel, J.T., Alvaro, E.M. et al. The At-risk Adolescent Marijuana Nonuser: Expanding the Standard Distinction. Prev Sci 9, 129–137 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-008-0090-0

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