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MJABUSEYR
Marijuana dependence or abuse (past year)

Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For sample persons ages 18-44, MJABUSEYR is a recoded variable that reports if, in the past 12 months, the person was dependent upon or abused marijuana. Persons who reported never using marijuana or last using marijuana over 12 months ago in previous questions were recorded as responding no.

This recoded variable uses responses from other questions about the person's prevalence of marijuana use in the past year to determine dependence or abuse. These questions include: using marijuana more often than planned in the last year; trying but being unable to cut down or stop using marijuana; using marijuana every day for 2 or more weeks; experiencing social consequences of marijuana use; reducing activities because of marijuana use; continuing to use marijuana despite problems from marijuana use; building a tolerance to marijuana; feeling sick because of stopping or cutting down on marijuana; and, using drugs or alcohol because feeling sick from stopping or cutting down on marijuana use.

Related Variables
All sample persons ages 18-44 were asked a series of general questions about marijuana use. The introduction to this section read "In the following set of questions, 'marijuana' refers to both marijuana and hashish (has). Hashish is a concentrated form of marijuana."

 

Variables related to the questions asked of all sample persons age 18-44 include:

  • MJLIFENO : number of times in life used marijuana
  • MJMOSYR : number of months used marijuana in the past 12 months
  • MJXDAY : times per day used marijuana

Persons who reported never using marijuana, not even once, did not complete the rest of the questions related to marijuana use. Those persons who had used marijuana at least once in their lives were asked additional questions. Persons were asked if the following scenarios had happened in the past year.

 

These persons were asked if they had ever:

  • Used marijuana more than she/he thought she/he would (MJMORPLANEV)
  • Tried to cut down or stop using marijuana but found that she/he couldn't (MJCANTCUTEV)
  • Used marijuana every day for two weeks or more (MJDALY2WKEV)
  • Been high on marijuana or feeling its aftereffects while at work or school (MJHIWKSCHLEV)
  • Been high on marijuana or feeling its after effects while at home, taking care of her/his home or family (MJHIFAMCAREV)
  • Skipped going to work or school because she/he was high on marijuana or feeling its after effects (MJSKIPWKSCHEV)
  • Had problems with work, school, or the police because of using marijuana (MJWORKPEV)
  • Continued to use marijuana even though she/he knew it was causing problems with work, school, or the police (MJWORKPEVUS)
  • Failed to take care of her/his home or family because she/he was high on marijuana or feeling its after effects (MJFAMFAILEV)
  • Had problems with family or friends because of using marijuana (MJFAMPEV)
  • Continued to use marijuana even though she/he knew it was causing problems with her/his family or friends (MJFAMPEVUS)
  • Driven a car or other vehicle within 1 hour after using marijuana (MJHICAREV)
  • Spent less time on activities that were important to him/her so that she/he could use marijuana (MJCUTACTEV)
  • Felt depressed, anxious, or uninterested in things because of using marijuana (MJDEPRESEV)
  • Continued to use marijuana even though she/he knew it made her/him feel depressed, anxious, or uninterested in things (MJDEPRESEVUS)
  • Built up a tolerance to marijuana so that the same amount had less effect than before (MJTOLEV)
  • Felt sick or irritable because she/he stopped or cut down on her/his marijuana use (MJCUTSICKEV)
  • Used alcohol or drugs because she/he felt sick when she/he stopped or cut down on marijuana use (MJALCSICKEV)
  • Went to a self-help group, counselor, doctor, or other professional to get help because of marijuana use (MJGOHELPEV)

If persons reported using marijuana in the past 12 months, they were asked about the same scenarios, but instead asked if they had happened in the past 12 months. Variables about marijuana ending in EV (like those listed above) are scenarios asked only of persons who used marijuana at least once in their lives. Marijuana variables ending in YR are only asked of respondents who used marijuana in the past 12 months.

If variables about marijuana end in LP, they indicate lifetime prevalence variables and were only asked of persons who reported using marijuana ever in their lives, but, persons who reported not using marijuana are included among the "no" responses rather than being recorded as NIU as they are in the variables ending in EV. Marijuana variables ending in YP are year prevalence questions, and while technically these variables are only asked of persons who reported using marijuana in the past 12 months, all respondents who reported never using marijuana or last using marijuana over 12 months ago are recorded as responding "no" instead of NIU as they are in the variables ending in YR.

This variable is part of a series of questions on drug and alcohol use. Respondents filled this survey supplement out themselves because of the potentially personal nature of the questions included in the supplement. The interviewer was available to provide assistance if requested. The supplement includes detailed questions about marijuana and cocaine (COKABUSEYR), and general questions about use of hallucinogens, inhalants, heroin, painkillers, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers.

Comparability

There are no comparability issues with this variable.

Universe

  • 1991: Sample adults age 18-44.

Availability

  • 1991

Weights