An exploration of factors influencing cannabis use among Andalusian adolescents

Cannabis use is becoming one of the most common risk behaviours in adolescents worldwide. Its initiation and experimentation are mostly given during adolescence. The consequences of cannabis use can be detrimental, leading to physical and mental disorders, strained relationships, family and school problems, or dependence syndrome. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that research on risk and protective factors for recreational cannabis use has been limited to a few high-income countries, where Spain is omitted. In Spain, and particularly in Andalusia, little is known about the factors influencing cannabis use behaviour in adolescents. Therefore, this thesis explored the prevalence and related factors associated with cannabis use among Andalusian adolescents aged 14-18 years old, based on the I-Change model.