Etiology of Tendency Toward Using Cannabis: A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Teenager’s Consumers

Extended Abstract

Background

Adolescence is a critical period of development marked by fundamental changes in social, psychological, and logical aspects. This is one of the most special and dangerous periods in every human being’s life, which can be considered the most valuable period due to the conditions and situations experienced by teenagers as well as the responsibilities they have. Developmental researchers consider adolescence a long and significant process that understanding the possibilities and problems related to this period and passing it appropriately may lead all of us to a healthy and happy adulthood. Therefore, examining the issues and problems of this period and attempting to find suitable solutions can help us have healthy people and society.

One of the key issues threatening teenagers during this period of growth is drug use, as many teenagers try to use drugs. Cannabis is one of the most commonly consumed substances among teenagers and is often associated with behavioral problems in this age group. Cannabis use during this period, besides bringing many complications for them, can be the beginning of the use of other drugs and an increased risk of addiction in their adulthood, all of which result in serious challenges for the individual and the society.

Given that understanding the motivation of consumption is one of the key components for prevention and necessary interventions, recognition of the causes of the tendency to use cannabis by a qualitative method to help understand the context and conditions of this behavior is of paramount importance.

Methods

The current qualitative research employed a descriptive phenomenological method to delve into the depths of the mind and the lived experiences of teenagers regarding the use of cannabis, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of their inner world. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2023 with 11 teenagers aged 17 to 20 living in the city of Mashhad, using dialogue and narration to gather their insights. The participants in this study were selected using convenience and purposive sampling methods. Sampling continued until reaching the saturation stage to obtain data. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed by the coding method. The inclusion criteria for the study were: (1) consuming cannabis once a week for at least 1 year, (2) not using any other substances during this period, (3) being between the ages of 16 and 20 (high school age and the first two years of university), and (4) providing consent to participate in the research. For participants under 18 years old, parental consent was also required for the interview. Moreover, the lack of conscious satisfaction or unwillingness to continue cooperation for any reason and lack of experience with using cannabis were among the exclusion criteria of the study. Subsequently, a list of questions about the subject was prepared with the approval of the supervisors. The interviews were conducted in a quiet place separated from the others, and after pointing out the confidentiality of the interviews and observing their privacy, the interviewees were asked to freely express their views and narratives about cannabis use. The interview sessions lasted between 35 and 45 minutes, focusing on the etiology of cannabis use from the perspective of the teenagers participating in the study. Finally, after 11 interviews, the content of the conversations was carefully implemented and the data coding process began. This process started with grouping and classifying data at low levels into concepts and ended with reclassifying themes at the highest abstract level. A report was then produced that included primary codes, sub-categories, main categories, and ultimately core categories. Finally, the validity of the data was proved to the researcher by the participants’ confirmation and experts’ reviews.

Results

Careful analysis of the participants’ interview texts led to the identification of 136 primary codes, 30 sub-categories, 11 main categories, and 2 core categories. One of the main categories of the tendency to use cannabis was the intrapersonal dimension, such as cognitive distortion of the effects of cannabis, use of cannabis to escape from problems, desire to use during low mood, and ignorance of the harmful nature of cannabis. In this regard, to express their desire for cannabis, teenagers focused more on themselves and the perceptions and problems around their personality and behavioral dimensions. In fact, they viewed certain life challenges, such as sadness and depression, as deficiencies that led to their desire for cannabis. Additionally, by using cannabis improperly, teenagers strengthened the necessary qualities in facing the challenges of life, including improved concentration or increased self-confidence. On the other hand, the false belief that cannabis is not harmful and even that it is useful was another factor affecting the consumption of cannabis among teenagers. They did not have enough knowledge about the harmful effects of cannabis, and since they were not worried about its harm, they tended to use cannabis more. Therefore, part of the motivation for teenagers using cannabis was related to their attempts to hide or justify their actions in their minds. Another main category extracted from the interviews with teenagers was the interpersonal and extrapersonal dimensions of the desire for cannabis, encompassing peer modeling, justification of usage through modeling after celebrities, coping with parental conflicts, coping with emotional problems, and easy access to cannabis. In this category, teenagers mentioned the lack of emotional relationships with the opposite sex and family as reasons for using cannabis. The family conflicts and feeling of rejection by parents were among the issues making them more willing to use cannabis. Another reason was their need to be accepted in the group of friends and peers; so many teenagers stated that their use was due to their friends’ suggestions. On the other hand, the use of cannabis among famous people and its easy access in the macro social field were among the factors directly and indirectly leading teenagers to use cannabis.

Conclusion

Teenagers in today’s era are facing many problems that can increase the possibility of their desire to consume drugs, including cannabis, which in turn can affect their own as well as society’s future health and wellbeing. The findings of the present study highlight influential and intermediary factors contributing to the tendency toward and use of cannabis among adolescents and young adults. Both individual and social structures influence the use of cannabis. A comprehensive analysis of cannabis consumption tendencies can help consider all the facts and needs. The dissemination of false and misleading information contributes to adolescents’ inclination to cannabis use. Considering these components as an initial step in developing effective policies and intervention measures tailored to the identified needs would be helpful. It can also inform effective interventions and treatment measures.