En tværsnitsundersøgelse af omfanget af cannabis blandt elever på grønlands ungdomsuddannelser

Abstract

Problemstilling: Forbruget af cannabis udgør et af Grønlands største folkesundhedsproblematikker, med konse- kvenser for både individ og samfund. For især unge mennesker, har et cannabisforbrug kognitive, fysiske, psyki- ske og sociale konsekvenser, der kan forringe evnen til at gennemføre en uddannelse. Unge, der ikke gennemfø- rer en uddannelse, er i øget risiko for at blive socialt og sundhedsmæssigt udsat. På trods af dette, er der begræn- set evidens for udbredelsen af cannabis blandt elever på Grønlands ungdomsuddannelser og i hvilke sammen- hænge cannabis bliver brugt. Formål: At skabe viden om forbruget af cannabis og adfærden relateret hertil blandt elever på Grønlands ung- domsuddannelser og hvilken sammenhæng det har til adfærden relateret til cannabis i deres sociale netværk. Suppleret med internationale erfaringer om skolebaserede interventioner og årsager til cannabisbrug, skulle det give en indikation af behovet for det videre forebyggende arbejde i denne kontekst. Metode: Specialet er en tværsnitsundersøgelse, med et socialkonstruktivistisk ståsted, hvor spørgeskema er an- vendt som primær dataindsamlingsmetode. Spørgeskemaet er udarbejdet med udgangspunkt i Aday og Corne- lius’ (2006) Steps in Designing and Conducting a Survey. På baggrund af data fra spørgeskemaundersøgelsen blev der udført deskriptiv statistik og logistiske regressionsanalyser i computerprogrammet STATA 18.0. Systematiske litteratursøgninger er anvendt som sekundær dataindsamlingsmetode. For at konstruere en forståelse af, hvor- dan brugen af cannabis blandt eleverne er socialt konstrueret, blev Durkheims teori om social integration an- vendt som teoretisk referenceramme. Resultater: Deskriptiv statistik viser, at cannabis er udbredt og oftest bruges i sociale sammenhænge, samt at vi- den om cannabis primært tilegnes gennem venner og digitale platforme. Logistiske regressionsanalyser påviste sammenhæng mellem holdning til cannabis og adfærden relateret til cannabis i det sociale netværk, at være en del af et socialt netværk og bruge cannabis, samt negativ sammenhæng mellem trivsel og forbrug af cannabis. Der var ingen sammenhæng mellem forbrug af cannabis og viden om skadelige konsekvenser. Internationalt er de primære årsager til cannabisbrug, normen i det sociale netværk, gruppepres, social forbedring, nydelse, sjov, ek- sperimentering, kedsomhed, afslapning og coping. Internationale skolebaserede interventioner viser, at elevers viden og holdninger til cannabis kan ændres, men at skoleglæde og engagement i skolen er betydelige faktorer i arbejdet med at reducere cannabisbrug blandt elever. Konklusion: Tværsnitsundersøgelsen indikerer, at cannabis er et udbredt og aktuelt fænomen blandt elever på Grønlands ungdomsuddannelser, der oftest udspiller sig i sociale sammenhænge. Gennem interessentinddragelse er der behov for yderligere undersøgelse af elevernes tanker og følelser forbundet med cannabisbrug, før der kan udvikles og implementeres forebyggende tiltag, der skal adressere cannabisbruget.

Problem: Cannabis consumption is one of Greenland's major public health issues, with significant consequences for both individuals and society. For young people in particular, cannabis use has cognitive, physical, psychologi- cal, and social impacts that can impair their ability to complete an education. Those who do not complete their education are at increased risk of social and health-related disadvantages. Despite this, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of cannabis use among students in Greenland's secondary education and the contexts in which cannabis is used. Aim: To generate knowledge about cannabis use and related behaviors among students in Greenland's secondary education and its relationship to cannabis-related behaviors in their social networks. Supplemented with interna- tional experiences on school-based interventions and reasons for cannabis use, this should indicate the need for further preventive work in this context. Method: This thesis is a cross-sectional study with a social constructivist approach, using a questionnaire as the primary data collection method. The questionnaire was developed based on Aday and Cornelius’ (2006) Steps in Designing and Conducting a Survey. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed using STATA 18.0, based on the questionnaire data. Systematic literature searches were used as a secondary data col- lection method. To construct an understanding of how cannabis use among students is socially constructed, Durk- heim’s theory of social integration was used as the theoretical framework. Results: Descriptive statistics show that cannabis is widespread and most often used in social contexts, with knowledge about cannabis primarily acquired through friends and digital platforms. Logistic regression analyses revealed an association between attitudes toward cannabis and cannabis-related behaviors in the social network, being part of a social network and using cannabis, and a negative association between well-being and cannabis use. There was no association between cannabis use and knowledge of its harmful consequences. Internationally, the primary reasons for cannabis use are social network norms, peer pressure, social enhancement, enjoyment, fun, experimentation, boredom, relaxation, and coping. International school-based interventions show that stu- dents’ knowledge and attitudes towards cannabis can be changed, but school enjoyment and engagement are significant factors in reducing cannabis use among students. Conclusion: The cross-sectional study indicates that cannabis is a widespread and current phenomenon among students in Greenland's secondary education, which often occur in social contexts. Through stakeholder engage- ment, further investigation into students' thoughts and feelings associated with cannabis use is needed before developing and implementing preventive measures to address cannabis use.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

En tværsnitsundersøgelse af omfanget af cannabis blandt elever på grønlands ungdomsuddannelser

[A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of cannabis among students in Greenland's secondary education]