Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 11, pp. 275-286, 1986 0306-4603/86 $3.00 + .00 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. Copyright © 1986 Pergamon Journals Ltd FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CANNABIS NONUSE AND CESSATION OF USE: BETWEEN AND WITHIN SURVEY REPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS MICHAEL S. GOODSTADT, GODWIN C. CHAN, MARGARET A. SHEPPARD, and JANE C. CLEVE Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Ontario Abstract-Multivariate analyses (Multiple Classification Analyses) of data obtained from repeated surveys (1981 and 1983) of students (grades 7-13) supported the separate considera- tion of three aspects of cannabis use and nonuse: (a) not trying cannabis; (b) trying and quit- ting cannabis use; and (c) trying and continuing cannabis use. Marked consistency was found in results obtained from between and within-survey replications. Many variables which ex- hibited bivariate relationships with cannabis use were not significant when considered multivariately. Few variables were related to both trying vs. continuing cannabis use. Variables which were expected to be related to cannabis use failed to show a significant relationship, most notably those measuring perceived threat of legal consequences, problems at home, prob- lems outside the home, and threats to health. Methodological and substantive, especially edu- cational/prevention, implications are highlighted. Previous research (Goodstadt, Sheppard, & Chan, 1984) found, among other results, that (a) nontrying and quitting cannabis are important phenomena in their own right; (b) trying cannabis was not necessarily associated with continued use of the drug; and (c) that these processes possess both similarities and differences. Table 1 summarizes rates of quitting cannabis use derived from a wide range of studies. Data were obtained from four sources: (a) changes in reported cannabis use among a panel of respondents (e.g., Brill & Christie, 1974; Davidson, Mellinger, & Manheimer, 1977; Kandel, Single, & Kessler, 1976; Sadava & Forsyth, 1977); (b) retrospective questions asking about quitting cannabis use (e.g., Goodstadt et al., 1984; Martin, Duncan, & Zunich, 1983; Sadava & Forsyth, 1977); (c) questions about cannabis use that included a "no longer use" response category (used in the majority of studies); and (d) an index of discontinued use derived (by the present authors) compar- ing reported "lifetime" use versus "last year's use" (i.e., Hollander & Davis, 1983; Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 1984; Miller et al., 1983). Several cautious conclu- sions appear justified. 1. Cannabis cessation is more frequently reported by older cohorts (e.g. Brown, Glaser, Waxer, & Geis, 1974; Raffoul & Cummins, 1980). 2. There has been an increase in quitting rates (Hollander & Davis, 1983; Johnston et al., 1984; Miller et al., 1983). As measured by the derived index of quitting (i.e. dis- crepancy between "lifetime" use and "last 12 (or 6) month's" use), the cessation rate is of the order of 20°7o-25°7o among high school populations, 3507o among college age populations, and 5507o among adults. It is the policy of the Addiction Research Foundation that the following disclaimer be placed on all documents: "The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Addiction Research Foundation." Authors are, Head, Senior Research Assistant, Research Associate and Research Assistant, respectively, of the Education Research Section, Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto. -~ Requests for reprints should be addressed to Michael S. Goodstadt, Education Research Section, Addic- tion Research Foundation, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1. 275