OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine trends in the prevalence of lifetime cannabis use among the Czech 15-year old students. METHODS: Data from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey, conducted in the Czech Republic in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, were used. Trends in cannabis use among both boys and girls were modelled through binary logistic regression with period as a predictor of the lifetime cannabis use. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime cannabis use has significantly decreased among young Czechs, particularly among boys. Gender differences in cannabis use have been also gradually decreasing since 2002, with no significant differences between genders in recent period. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are positive changes in the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use, from the European perspective, Czech students still belong to those with significantly higher rates in this respect. Thus, alongside with the use of other substances, adolescent cannabis consumption remains an important challenge for the national public health policy.

Centre of Epidemiological and Clinical Research of Drug Abuse and Dependence National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Social Geography and Regional Development Faculty of Sciences Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Faculty of Education University of Presov in Presov Presov Slovakia

Institute of Active Lifestyle Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

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Changing trends in adolescent alcohol use among Czech school-aged children from 1994 to 2014