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. 2015 Aug;24(5):452-9.
doi: 10.1111/ajad.12240. Epub 2015 May 8.

Trajectories of marijuana use from adolescence to adulthood predicting unemployment in the mid 30s

Jung Yeon Lee  1 , Judith S Brook  1 , Stephen J Finch  2 , David W Brook  1
Affiliations

Trajectories of marijuana use from adolescence to adulthood predicting unemployment in the mid 30s

Jung Yeon Lee et al. Am J Addict. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Unemployment (5.5% as of 2015) is a serious social and economic problem in our society. Since marijuana use is an important factor related to unemployment, identifying the trajectory of the use of marijuana may aid intervention programs and research on unemployment.

Methods: Six hundred seventy-four participants (53% African-Americans, 47% Puerto Ricans) were surveyed (60% females) from ages 14 to 36. The first data collection was held when the participants were students attending schools in the East Harlem area of New York City.

Results: We found that the chronic marijuana use (OR = 4.07, p < .001; AOR = 2.58, p < .05) and the late marijuana quitter (OR = 2.91, p < .05) trajectory groups were associated with an increased likelihood of unemployment compared with the no marijuana use trajectory group.

Conclusions and scientific significance: The results suggest that those who use marijuana chronically are at greater risk for being unemployed. Consequently, these individuals should have access to and participate in marijuana cessation treatment programs in order to reduce their risk of unemployment. Unemployment intervention programs should also consider focusing on the cessation of the use of marijuana to decrease the likelihood of later unemployment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Trajectories of Marijuana Use from Mid Adolescence to Mid Thirties Note. The answer options for marijuana use: 0 = never, 1 = a few times a year or less, 2 = about once a month, 3 = several times a month, and 4 = once a week or more.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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