Abstract

DIAS, Paola Souza; PALATA, Fernanda Gomes  and  VECCHIA, Marcelo Dalla. Social representations of cannabis use among youngsters: comparative study. Est. Inter. Psicol. [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.3, pp. 174-195. ISSN 2236-6407.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2020v11n3p174.

We sought to identify and compare the social representations of marijuana use from the perspective of two groups of young people: those attending a public university, and non-university participants attending a social project with people from suburbs. Data were collected in focus groups, each with six participants, and the analysis was based upon the theory of social representations and carried out through thematic analysis. A posteriori categories were delimited: images of marijuana, family members' view, marijuana's role/place, motivation/influence for use, context of use, school/university positioning and consequences. There were similarities between the groups regarding the perception of the safety of marijuana as a natural product and the difficulty of talking about it within the family, but also differences, for example, as to whether or not marijuana is the gateway to other drugs. Discussing marijuana still generates resistance and brings taboos, accentuating the need to promote dialogues.

Keywords : cannabis sativa; marijuana; social representations theory; youngsters; focus groups.

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