Ritika
National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), New Delhi
Richa Singh
Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat Fort, Varanasi
Anurag Upadhyay
Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi
Pages:61-68
Cannabis is the most commonly used psychoactive substance and adolescence is
the vulnerable time for drug use. There is increased risk of experiencing mental health
problems during adolescence. Mental health difficulties are among the risk factors for
cannabis addiction in adolescents. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate relationship
between cannabis addiction and mental health difficulties in cannabis addicted
adolescents and to identify the role of mental health difficulties in predicting cannabis
addiction. Cannabis addiction was measured using Cannabis use and problem
identification test (CUPIT) and mental health difficulty was measured using Strength
and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Data was collected from a randomly selected
sample of 50 adolescent boys in the age range of 13 to 16 years from a de-addiction
center in New Delhi. Addiction to cannabis only and score above 20 on CUPIT scale
was the inclusion criteria. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that cannabis addiction leads to mental health
difficulties in adolescents. Conduct problem and hyperactivity is significantly associated
with cannabis addiction and conduct problems uniquely contribute to cannabis addiction.
Thus, the study highlights that cannabis addiction leads to mental health difficulties in
adolescents. Conduct problems is a risk factor for cannabis addiction.