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Response to Martinez-Novack et al. Comments on Hynes et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use among University Students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2015, 12, 5233-5240
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Reply published on 17 September 2015, see Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(9), 11721-11723.
Comment of Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(5), 5233-5240.
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Comment

Comments on Hynes et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use among University Students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5233–5240

by
Maria Claudia Martinez-Novack
*,
Maria Teresa Ortiz-Ortiz
†,
Bruno Castañeda-Carbajal
† and
German F. Alvarado
†
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas; Alameda San Marcos Avenue, block 2, Chorrillos. Lima 09, Lima, Peru
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(9), 11718-11720; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120911718
Submission received: 16 July 2015 / Accepted: 1 September 2015 / Published: 17 September 2015
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
We have read and analyzed the article entitled “Prevalence of marijuana use among university students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru”. We propose some objective points which could enhance the internal validity of the study (i.e., we suggest to report participation proportions).

We have read the article entitled “Prevalence of marijuana use among university students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru” with great interest [1]. In fact, we consider it to be of high importance to have estimated the drug use among students of the Andean Community and its evolution over time. We also want to highlight the commendable effort to collect the data from these four Latin American countries. This study could be important to improve public health initiatives at the level of individual countries and also within the Andean Community.
There have been previous studies concerning the evolution of legal and illegal drug use in the United States [2,3] and other developed countries [4]. It is also necessary to have these statistics for Latin America analyzing use of these substances and changes over time. To do this, you may consider that in cross-sectional designs the number of participants is important, as well as the number of people invited to participate, which is especially important when you want to determine prevalence [5,6]. This participation proportion has not been presented in Hynes’ study [1].
Therefore, we suggest the authors present the participation proportion of each of the surveys to assess the internal validity of the study, and thus evaluate the potential selection bias in relation to the population not involved in the study (i.e., those who did not participate). We would also recommend presenting weighted and unweighted estimates [6].

Conclusions

We suggest reporting the participation proportion for each survey and to present weighted and unweighted estimates.

Acknowledgements

The authors declare not receiving financial resources.

Conflicts of Interest

The senior author has received partial support from NIDA/NIH for pre- and postdoctoral training.

References

  1. Hynes, M.; Demarco, M.; Araneda, J.; Cumsille, F. Prevalence of marijuana use among university students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5233–5240. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Keyes, K.M.; Schulenberg, J.E.; O’Malley, P.M.; Johnston, L.D.; Bachman, J.G.; Li, G.; Hasin, D. The social norms of birth cohorts and adolescent marijuana use in the United States, 1976–2007. Addiction 2011, 106, 1790–1800. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Keyes, K.M.; Schulenberg, J.E.; O’Malley, P.M.; Johnston, L.D.; Bachman, J.G.; Li, G.; Hasin, D. Birth cohort effects on adolescent alcohol use: The influence of social norms from 1976 to 2007. Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 2012, 69, 1304–1313. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Piontek, D.; Kraus, L.; Pabst, A.; Legleye, S. An age-period-cohort analysis of cannabis use prevalence and frequency in Germany, 1990–2009. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2012, 66, 908–913. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Von Elm, E.; Altman Douglas, G.; Egger, M.; Pocock, S.J.; Gøtzsche Peter, C.; Vandenbroucke, J.P. Declaración de la iniciativa STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology): Directrices para la Comunicación de Estudios Observacionales. Rev. Esp. Salud Públ 2008, 82, 251–259. [Google Scholar]
  6. Szklo, M.; Nieto, F.J. Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics; Aspen Publisher Inc.: Gaithersburg, MA, USA, 2000. [Google Scholar]

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Martinez-Novack, M.C.; Ortiz-Ortiz, M.T.; Castañeda-Carbajal, B.; Alvarado, G.F. Comments on Hynes et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use among University Students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5233–5240. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 11718-11720. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120911718

AMA Style

Martinez-Novack MC, Ortiz-Ortiz MT, Castañeda-Carbajal B, Alvarado GF. Comments on Hynes et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use among University Students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5233–5240. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12(9):11718-11720. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120911718

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martinez-Novack, Maria Claudia, Maria Teresa Ortiz-Ortiz, Bruno Castañeda-Carbajal, and German F. Alvarado. 2015. "Comments on Hynes et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use among University Students in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 5233–5240" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 9: 11718-11720. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120911718

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