We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.
Trajectories of Marijuana Use Beginning in Adolescence Predict Tobacco Dependence in Adulthood
Judith S. Brook , Jung Yeon Lee , David W. Brook
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015
Although the “stage theory” suggests that marijuana use occurs after the initiation of tobacco smoking, our findings indicated that the opposite way also exists. That is, diminishing chronic, increasing, and moderate marijuana use may reduce tobacco dependence. In light of the results, policy makers should consider the effects of different amounts of marijuana use in their approach to tobacco dependence. Prevention and treatment programs in early adolescence should focus on decreasing the chronic marijuana use trajectory group, the increasing marijuana use trajectory group, and the moderate marijuana use trajectory group. In addition to focusing on the trajectories of marijuana use, prevention of tobacco dependence should target early tobacco use.