Parent–child communication and marijuana initiation: Evidence using discrete-time survival analysis

This study supplements existing literature on the relationship between parent–child communication and adolescent drug use by exploring whether parental and/or adolescent recall of specific drug-related conversations differentially impact youth's likelihood of initiating marijuana use. Using discrete-time survival analysis, we estimated the hazard of marijuana initiation using a logit model to obtain an estimate of the relative risk of initiation. Our results suggest that parent–child communication about drug use is either not protective (no effect) or — in the case of youth reports of communication — potentially harmful (leading to increased likelihood of marijuana initiation).

► Our results highlight differences between youth and parent reports of communication. ► In general, communication about drug use is not protective against marijuana initiation. ► Youth reports suggest communication leads to increased marijuana initiation.