Transcript Quick facts on marijuana use

Quick Facts on Marijuana Use:
Emphasis on youth and young adults
Kevin Ringhofer, Ph.D
Shifting policy landscape
Marijuana is the Most Commonly
Used Illicit Drug In the U.S.
• Over 111 million Americans have tried
it at least once
• An estimated 2.4 million Americans used
it for the first time in 2012
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Active Ingredient in Marijuana
Source of Statistics: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Source: 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA
2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Prevalence of Past Year Drug Use Among 12th graders
Drug
Prev.
Drug
Prev.
Alcohol
62.0
Cough Medicine*
5.0
Any Illicit Drug
40.3
Sedatives*
4.8
Marijuana/Hashish
36.4
Tranquilizers*
4.6
Hookah
21.4
Hallucinogens
4.5
Small cigars
20.4
MDMA (Ecstasy)
4.0
Amphetamines*
8.7
Hall other than LSD
3.7
Synthetic Marijuana
7.9
OxyContin*
3.6
Snus
7.7
Salvia
3.4
Adderall*
7.4
Cocaine (any form)
2.6
Narcotics o/t Heroin*
7.1
Inhalants
2.5
Vicodin*
5.3
Ritalin*
2.3
* Nonmedical use
Categories not mutually exclusive
2013 National Data
**8th and 10th graders were not asked about any prescriptions drug use
SOURCE: Monitoring the Future Study
2013 State Data
State of MN 30-day use
5th Grade
8th Grade
9th Grade
11th Grade
28%
18%
1%
5%
10%
Tobacco
4%
9%
16%
14%
1%
Alcohol
* Any use in the last 12 months
SOURCE: 2013 MN Student Survey
5%
9%
Marijuana
1% 1% 1%
Meth*
7%
3% 5%
Rx
Percentage of U.S. 12th Grade Students
Reporting Past Month Use of
Cigarettes and Marijuana
Marijuana
Cigarettes
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study.
12th Graders’ Past Year Marijuana Use vs.
Perceived Risk of Occasional Marijuana Use
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Percent Perceiving Great Risk of Smoking
Marijuana Regularly
Denotes significant difference
between 2012 and 2013
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Percent Disapproval of Smoking Marijuana
Regularly
Denotes significant difference
between 2012 and 2013
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Percent Disapproval of Smoking Marijuana
Occasionally
Denotes significant difference
between 2012 and 2013
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Percent Reporting Marijuana as ‘fairly
easy’ or ‘very easy’ to Obtain
Denotes significant difference
between 2012 and 2013.
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Source of Marijuana* among 12th Graders in 2012
and 2013, by State Policy
*Categories not mutually exclusive
** Statistically significant difference
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study
Potency of marijuana has changed
Increased Potency
Today’s marijuana is not the
marijuana of the 1960s.
In the past 15 years, marijuana
potency has tripled and since 1960
it’s grown 5 times stronger.
Source: Mehmedic et al., (2010)
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Percent of Students Reporting Daily Use of
Marijuana, by Grade and Potency (% THC-D9)
SOURCE: University of Michigan, 2013 Monitoring the Future Study; University of Mississippi Marijuana Project, NIDA 2013
Harmful effects of marijuana
Harmful effects on the brain
Marijuana use directly affects the brain
• It affects parts of the brain responsible for:
• memory,
• learning attention,
• and reaction time.
• These effects can last up to 28 days after
abstinence from the drug.
Source: Giedd. J.N., 2004
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Marijuana use has significant effects on IQ
and learning

Persistent and heavy use among adolescents
reduces IQ by 6-8 points

According to a government survey, youth
with poor academic results are more than
four times likely to have used marijuana in
the past year than youth with an average of
higher grades.
Source: Meier, M.H., et al., 2012; MacLeod, J., et al., 2004.
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Average Point Difference in IQ score
(IQ at age 13 – IQ at age 38)
Persistent Cannabis Users Show A Significant IQ Drop
between Childhood and Midlife
Followed 1,037 individuals from birth to age 38
Tested marijuana use at 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38
Tested for IQ at ages 13 and 38
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
Non-users
used
1 Dx
Source: Meier MH et al., PNAS Early Edition 2012
used
2 Dx
used
3 Dx
Marijuana Affects Learning and
Motivation

In addition to lower grades, higher
drop out rates….you can lose your
competitive edge, especially if you use
the drug on a regular basis.

Long term users report less life
satisfaction, career and educational
achievement, poorer mental and
physical health.

Teen brain is actively developing –
worth the risk?
1 in 6 teens become addicted
• 1 in 10 adults and 1 in
6 adolescents who try
marijuana will become
addicted to it.

The adolescent
brain is especially
susceptible to
marijuana use.

When kids use, they
have a greater chance
of addiction since
their brains are being
primed.
Source: Anthony, J.C., Warner, L.A., & Kessler, R.C. (1994); Giedd. J. N., 2004
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Addiction

The younger age of first
use, the greater the risk

Among adolescents and
young adults receiving
treatment, marijuana is
most commonly the
primary drug of choice
Treatment Admissions, by primary
substance
Exhibit 1
Number of admissions to Minneapolis/St. Paul
addiction treatment programs by primary substance
problem (excluding alcohol): 2007 - 2012
4000
3500
!
!
marijuana
!
3000
2500
heroin
cocaine
!
other opiates
2000
meth
1500
!
!
1000
500
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
SOURCE:"Drug"and"Alcohol"Normative"Evaluation"System"(DAANES),"Minnesota"Department"of"Human"Services,"
2013.
Increased use can lead to increased
drugged driving
“Drivers who test positive
for marijuana or selfreport using marijuana
are more than twice as
likely as other drivers to
be involved in motor
vehicle crashes.”
Source: Mu-Chen Li, J.E., et al., 2011
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Shifting policy landscape