Risk Perceptions and Cannabis Use in a Sample of Portuguese Adolescents and Young Adults

Cannabis is the most used illicit substance worldwide, which has been associated with substantial adverse consequences. A recent trend toward a harmless vision of cannabis use in the general population has been observed. The present study sought to examine cannabis use frequency, differences according to cannabis use status in cannabis use risk perceptions, and the relation between risk perceptions and cannabis use in a sample of Portuguese adolescents and young adults (N = 721). The results showed that of the total sample 32.3% had ever used cannabis during their lifetime and 24% during the last year. In addition, those participants who had ever used cannabis perceived significantly less risk associated with cannabis use when comparing to never users. Finally, results showed that some specific dimensions of perceived risks for cannabis use were related to cannabis consumption during the last 12 months, 30 days, and 7 days. The findings of the present study suggest that cannabis use risk perceptions are relevant factors for cannabis use, which could inform for prevention-related efforts of cannabis use. Additional studies are warranted to examine deeply the relationships between cannabis use risk perceptions and cannabis use initiation and progression.