Recent teen marijuana statistics show that marijuana is the most sought-after drug among teenagers today. About 60 percent of kids who are using drugs admitted to using marijuana. Among 14.6 million people who smoked marijuana in 2002, about 4.8 million smoked it for at least 20 days. This was in a period of one month and some used it for more than 20 days.
Marijuana use has become a prominent issue with teens. Although treatment provides solutions, it’s ideal to prevent such activities in the first place in order to halt any opportunity for addiction.
A Deeper Look at Teen Marijuana Statistics
Outlined in the ‘Monitoring the Future Study’ from the University of Michigan is the assessment of alcohol and drug usage among youth. Reports reveal a substantial increase in marijuana usage among high-schoolers between 1992 and 1997. Unfortunately, this is a disturbing national trend for the increase of teen marijuana use. In the years 1991 and 2001, the fraction of eight graders who smoked marijuana increased to one in five from one in ten. Furthermore, this indicates how early kids are beginning to use marijuana. In 2014, Monitoring the Future found that Marijuana use continues to exceed cigarette use in all three grade levels. In 2014, 21.2% of high school seniors used marijuana. 13.6% of those surveyed smoked cigarettes.
All of this research reveals that the earlier a teen starts to use the drug, the more likely it is for him/her to become drug dependent in their later years of life. Among teens who seek treatment for marijuana addiction, 56 percent had begun to use it from the age of 14, and 26 percent from the age of 12.
The Increased Marijuana Potency of Today
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is much stronger today than ever before. In fact, as NIDA details on their website, “The amount of THC in marijuana has increased over the past few decades. In the early 1990s, the average THC content in marijuana was about 3.74 percent. However, in 2013, it was almost 10 percent, and much higher in some products such as oils and other extracts.”
Oils and extracts like wax are marijuana derivatives with a high THC content that are smoked in glass pipes or used in vaporizers. Indeed, modern vaping goes well beyond tobacco products. Hence, what once looked somewhat acceptable is now very likely illegal. In addition, these derivatives are incredibly potent and dangerous.
Overall, scientists do not yet know what this increase in potency means for a person’s health. However, it definitely increases the risk of addiction and long-term abuse. Indeed, there are numerous reports of marijuana users seeking help in emergency rooms with psychotic symptoms. Did you realize that high concentrations of THC can potentially lead to a psychotic break?
Get Help for Teenage Marijuana Use
Still, marijuana is often painted as a harmless drug. However, this is far from true. Teens need to clearly get the message early. Marijuana is an illegal substance. Using it can impact their lives in more than one way. If they do not get this message one way or the other, the statistics won’t improve.
In conclusion, if you or someone you love is struggling with marijuana use, we are here to help. Contact Newport Academy today to speak with a dedicated staff member of our team.