Psycho-social Characteristics of Cannabis Abusing Youth

It is a well known fact that drug abuse is most common in early adolescence. Th e most popular substances among youth are cannabis products (made from Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae). Th e majority of heroin and cocaine addicts have started with marijuana. Th e aim of this study is to show some psycho-social characteristics of adolescents who abuse cannabis. Research conducted during the year  was epidemiological and prospective. Th e study group included  adolescents of equal gender and age distribution. Q  questionnaire was used, as a comprehensive tool for all aspects of adolescent life. Th e results show strong peer impact on one’s behavior. Youth who use cannabis had - friends of the same behavior, compared to others who had none. We found positive correlation between life stressful events and cannabis abuse. We also noticed tendency to delinquent behavior related to can-

IFETA LIČANIN ET AL.: PSYCHO-SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CANNABIS ABUSING YOUTH

Introduction
For approximately . years, Cannabis sativa L. plant is grown all over the world for different purposes (production of fabric, oil, drugs).The kinds of cannabis, which are used as drugs prosper in tropical areas; and, the ones from which oil and fabric are produced prosper in subtropical areas and mild climates.Since very old times, cannabis has been used for many purposes during various rituals (similar to the use of coffee, tea or tobacco) in numerous tribal communities native to North Africa, Middle East, territories that are within the state borders of present Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan.According to the UN Convention definition, the following terms are used for cannabis: -Cannabis plant-any plant from genus Cannabis -Cannabis-represents the fl owering tops with intact resin -Cannabis resin-raw or purifi ed resin separated from the cannabis plant -Cannabis oil-concentrate extracted from cannabis resin or cannabis -Cannabis -similar to tobacco, green or brown leaves and the fl owering tops of the cannabis plant.miological research about the infl uence of cannabis on human health and pharmacology, but also further research in the area of using cannabis as medicament ().
Although it has not been found that cannabis causes physical addiction but only a moderate form of psychological addiction, scientifi c studies show that many abusers of cannabis have continued-deepened their experiencewith a ''stronger'' experience by moving onto heroin.
Problems connected with abuse of psychoactive substances in Bosnia and Herzegovina was registered for the fi rst time in early eighties of the twentieth century.
According to the most recent data, the most commonly abused substances are cannabis, anti Parkinson's disease drugs, glues and solvents, heroin, ecstasy, sedatives and hypnotizers, alcohol, tobacco, and very rarely hallucinogens, cocaine and others.Although drug abuse occurs at any stage of life, its occurrence is the most significant in adolescence.Thus, this paper focuses on that population with an aim to analyze some aspects of diff erent behaviors of youth who use cannabis.

THE KIND OF RESEARCH
Th e conducted study is of an epidemiological and prospective type.
STUDY GROUP This research includes total of  adolescents,  in Tuzla Canton ( primary school pupils and  high school students) and  in Sarajevo Canton ( primary school pupils and  high school students).Average age of subjects was - years with equal gender representation as well as equal representation according to living conditions (rural-urban).

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
In order to obtain the needed information, we used Q  test, an instrument which was created during the period -.Th is test is scientifi cally valid and widely accepted in the world, and it is adequate for the topic under consideration.It contains a wide range of questions about the relevant factors, which may infl uence use and abuse of drugs from all aspects of adolescent life; health culture, life style etc.In all schools the conducted survey was anonymous and voluntary.Th e research preparations as well as the survey were conducted simultaneously in Sarajevo and Tuzla cantons during the year .

Results
The research results were subjected to standard statistical analysis using software

Discussion
Considering a significance of the adolescent period in one's lifetime and serious disorders that can oc-cur during that period, we conducted this study in order to determine a level of abuse of cannabis by the adolescents.We approached this problem from the aspect of behavior of youth, trying to present sociological factors, which could potentially cause an increase in cannabis abuse.Identification of these factors may help in formulation of a preventive strategy that could give positive results in wider area.
Our research showed that from a total of  adolescents, .  abuse cannabis.As one can see from the results of our material, diff erent forms of risk behavior (riding with a drunk friend, drunk grown-up, not using a seat belt, using narcotics, etc.) are more frequently exercised by the young people who use any of the psychoac-IFETA LIČANIN ET AL.: PSYCHO-SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CANNABIS ABUSING YOUTH tive substances compared to their peers who do not.For example, young people who consume cannabis would more likely ride in a car which is driven by a drunk friend . : drunk grown-up . , seat belt is always used by .  ; and in a group that does not use narcotics against the same parameters; . , . , and seat belt is always used by . , which is shown in Table .Literature is abundant in data which suggest similar variables and results.Th e conclusion is that persons in that age group manifest multiple risk behavior more often ().
Our study considered peer influence as well.It was found that youngsters who abuse cannabis, alcohol and other narcotics have, on average, two or three friends with the same habits, compared to the other group of young people who do not have any or have just one such friend.A peer infl uence proved to be very signifi cant in abuse of harmful and dangerous substances.Th is observation is in agreement with the works of authors from around the world and many studies, which have shown that the characteristics of a group an adolescent spends time with and its attitude toward drug abuse are very relevant.Results from the literature illustrate the same conclusions: risky behavior of youngsters in comparison with the use of psychoactive substances could be a prediction for future behavior (, , , , ).A focus of our research was also delinquent, destructive behavior of young people.It is important to stress that smoking, alcohol and drug consumption are in a direct, high correlation with destructive behavior of youngsters.Some authors have shown that easier access to weapons, drugs and alcohol increases the risk of delinquent behavior (, ).Young people who participate in fi ghts assert in  cases that they will continue with such behavior ().
At the end of this fragmented elaboration, we can come to a general conclusion that our research is, for the most part, in agreement with the studies of some world authors, what can be seen through this discussion.

Conclusions
In the end we can conclude that during our research we have registered risk factors for abuse of the psychoactive substances by the young people.Th e most important ones are: . Young people who use cannabis show high degree of inclination towards different kinds of risky behavior (riding with a drunk friend or drunk grown-up, non-usage of safety belt etc.)..Th ere is a great probability that an individual will take on the characteristics of a group (he/she will start to consume one or more of the harmful substances if this is present in his/her immediate surroundings)..The consumers of cannabis are more inclined towards delinquency (theft in . ).References