Marijuana Use In Teens Is The Cause Of Increased Illicit Drug Use

Debunking the myth: Does teen marijuana use really increase illicit drug use? Find out now!

Published On

May 14, 2024

Dove Recovery's Team

Marijuana Use In Teens Is The Cause Of Increased Illicit Drug Use

Impact of Marijuana Use in Teens

Exploring the potential impact of marijuana use in teenagers, it becomes clear that the consequences extend beyond immediate effects. The risks include serious health and behavioral issues such as marijuana use disorder and an increased likelihood of addiction.

Risks of Marijuana Use Disorder

Marijuana use disorder is a condition characterized by the inability to stop using marijuana despite experiencing health and social problems. This disorder is often associated with marijuana use in teens, signaling a significant risk for this age group. The primary active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been found to have adverse long-term effects on the brain, particularly during its active development phase which continues up to approximately 21 years of age [1].

The regular use of marijuana during adolescence is of particular concern, as this age group is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing deleterious consequences [1]. Hence, it's critical to educate teenagers about the potential risks associated with marijuana use to mitigate these effects.

Addiction Rates in Teens

The risk of addiction to marijuana is another significant concern. According to SAMHSA, approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. However, this rate increases to 1 in 6 when individuals start using marijuana before the age of 18.

The long-term use of marijuana can lead to addiction, with approximately 9% of those who experiment with marijuana becoming addicted [1]. This suggests that early exposure to marijuana use can significantly increase the risk of addiction, making it crucial to discourage marijuana use among teenagers.

Age Group	Risk of Addiction
People who use marijuana	1 in 10
Individuals starting before age 18	1 in 6

These findings underline the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with marijuana use in teens. While further research is needed to fully comprehend the long-term consequences, the existing evidence points to a need for increased awareness and prevention efforts targeted at this age group.

Health Implications of Marijuana Use

The health implications of marijuana use are numerous and varied, with particular concern for cognitive effects, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and rising rates of adult use.

Cognitive Effects of Early Use

Early marijuana use, particularly in adolescence, can have long-lasting effects on cognitive functioning. According to the SAMHSA, marijuana use can cause permanent IQ loss of as many as 8 points when individuals start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not return, even after discontinuing marijuana use. Regular marijuana use is also associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and psychoses, especially among individuals with a preexisting genetic vulnerability [1].

Effects on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Marijuana use during pregnancy can lead to various health issues. These include fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function. THC and other chemicals from marijuana can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk, further impacting a child's healthy development.

Effects on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding	Description
Fetal Growth Restriction	Reduced growth of the fetus
Premature Birth	Birth before the normal term
Stillbirth	Loss of a baby before birth
Brain Development Issues	Hyperactivity and poor cognitive function

Rise in Adult Marijuana Use

Marijuana use is on the rise among all adult age groups, both sexes, and pregnant women. People ages 18-25 have the highest rate of use. Over the past few decades, the amount of THC in marijuana has steadily climbed. Today's marijuana has three times the concentration of THC compared to 25 years ago, likely contributing to increased rates of marijuana-related emergency room visits.

Marijuana Use Among Adults	Description
Age Group with Highest Use	18-25 years
Increase in THC Concentration	Three times higher than 25 years ago

These health implications of marijuana use underscore the need for comprehensive education and prevention strategies, particularly among young people. Fostering a better understanding of the potential risks associated with marijuana use can help individuals make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Changing Landscape of Marijuana

The landscape of marijuana use has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, characterized by increasing THC levels and shifts in usage trends among various age groups. These transformations have implications for understanding the potential risks associated with marijuana use and the strategies needed for effective prevention and treatment.

Increasing THC Levels

A notable characteristic of the changing marijuana landscape is the steady increase in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. Over the past few decades, the amount of THC in marijuana has steadily climbed; today's marijuana has three times the concentration of THC compared to 25 years ago.

The higher the THC amount, the stronger the effects on the brain are. This amplification is likely contributing to increased rates of marijuana-related emergency room visits. The impact of these elevated THC levels is a critical consideration in understanding the potential health risks and societal implications of marijuana use.

Current Usage Trends

Alongside the increasing THC levels, there have been significant shifts in marijuana usage trends. Particularly, marijuana use in young adults aged 19 to 30 years old reached the highest levels ever recorded in 2021, with 43% of young adults reporting past-year marijuana use. This is a significant increase from 34% five years ago and 29% ten years ago [3].

Additionally, there's been a significant increase in the use of hallucinogens such as LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, "shrooms" or psilocybin, and PCP among young adults, with 8% reporting past-year use in 2021. This represents an all-time high since 1988, up from 5% in 2016 and 3% in 2011.

Drug Type	2011 Usage	2016 Usage	2021 Usage
Marijuana	29%	34%	43%
Hallucinogens	3%	5%	8%

Nicotine vaping among young adults nearly tripled to 16% in 2021 compared to 6% in 2017, despite leveling off in 2020 during the pandemic period. Similarly, marijuana vaping rates in the past month among young adults doubled from 6% in 2017 to 12% in 2021, showing a significant increase [3].

Vaping Type	2017 Usage	2021 Usage
Nicotine	6%	16%
Marijuana	6%	12%

These changing trends underscore the need for continued surveillance, public awareness, and effective intervention strategies to mitigate the risks and health implications associated with increased marijuana use and other related drug use.

Long-Term Consequences of Marijuana Use

While the short-term effects of marijuana use are well-known, the long-term consequences, particularly when use begins in adolescence, are less understood. These consequences can include serious health problems in adulthood and negative effects on academic performance.

Health Problems in Adulthood

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, marijuana use over a period of 13 years is significantly associated with increased health problems by the late twenties. This includes respiratory problems, general malaise, and neurocognitive problems.

Health Problem	Association with Marijuana Use
Respiratory problems	Strong
General malaise	Strong
Neurocognitive problems	Strong

Smoking marijuana is particularly associated with serious respiratory and neurocognitive health risks. In addition, marijuana use during childhood, adolescence, and the early twenties predicts respiratory problems, neurobehavioral and cognitive problems, general malaise in the late twenties.

It's also important to note that adolescent marijuana use is associated with increased risks of self-deviance, risky sexual behaviors, violence towards others, contact with the justice system, depression, and suicidal behaviors.

Effects on Academic Performance

The effects of marijuana use also extend to academic performance. Adolescents who use marijuana are less likely to graduate from high school. Additionally, marijuana use is associated with lower academic achievement and functioning.

Academic Outcome	Association with Marijuana Use
High school graduation	Negative
Academic achievement	Negative
Academic functioning	Negative

The use of marijuana, especially during adolescence, can have severe effects on an individual's life trajectory. Lower academic achievement and functioning can limit future opportunities and compromise an individual's quality of life.

These findings underscore the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies to reduce marijuana use among adolescents. By understanding the long-term consequences of marijuana use, we can better educate young people about the risks and help them make informed decisions about their health and future.

Perception vs. Reality of Marijuana Risks

When discussing the topic of marijuana use in teens, it's crucial to consider the gap between perception and reality of its risks. This includes the awareness and risk perception among adolescents and the national statistics and trends concerning adolescent marijuana use.

Adolescent Awareness and Risk Perception

Despite the potential risks associated with youth marijuana use, including poorer education/employment outcomes, cognitive deficits, increased likelihood of vehicle crashes, and increased addiction risk, a significant portion of adolescents fail to perceive these risks. In 2014, only 1 in 5 adolescents perceived great risk from monthly marijuana use [4].

The perception of risk varies widely across different regions. In 2013-2014, approximately 23.54% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 perceived great risk of harm from smoking marijuana once a month. The perception of great risk ranged from 15.72% in the District of Columbia to 32.75% in Utah [4].

National Statistics and Trends

In terms of usage, approximately 7.22% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States used marijuana in the past month in 2013-2014. This corresponds to approximately 1.8 million adolescents. The rates of past month marijuana use ranged from 4.98% in Alabama to 12.56% in Colorado [4].

Interestingly, there was no significant change in the rate of past month marijuana use among adolescents at the national level between 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. However, three states (Hawaii, Ohio, and Rhode Island) experienced a statistically significant decrease in the rate of adolescent past month marijuana use [4].

On the aspect of risk perception, there was a slight decrease at the national level in the rate of adolescent perception of great risk from smoking marijuana once a month between 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Fourteen states experienced a statistically significant decline in the percentage of adolescents who perceived great risk from smoking marijuana.

These statistics highlight the need for increased education and awareness regarding the risks and realities of marijuana use. It's crucial to bridge the gap between perception and reality to help teens make informed decisions about marijuana use and understand the potential long-term consequences of regular use.

Debunking the IQ Myth

A common belief is that marijuana use in teens leads to a decline in intelligence quotient (IQ), and potentially increased illicit drug use. However, a closer look at recent studies suggests a different reality.

Research Findings

A significant study on the impact of adolescent marijuana use on intelligence was conducted through two longitudinal twin studies: the Risk Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB) twin study at the University of Southern California and the Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS).

The research aimed to determine several things:

If developmentally emerging IQ deficits found in teens who use marijuana were widespread or specific
If a dose-response relationship existed between the extent of marijuana use and an IQ decline
If deficits in crystallized intelligence were specific to marijuana use
If within-pair differences in IQ could be attributed to a causal effect of marijuana use

The study found no significant evidence to support the notion that adolescent marijuana use leads to a decline in IQ. It questioned the presence of a dose-response relationship between the extent of marijuana use and IQ decline and raised doubts about the deficits in crystallized intelligence being specific to marijuana use.

Impact on Intelligence

The research also examined whether within-pair differences in IQ could be linked to a potential causal effect of marijuana use in teens. These analyses were conducted using the same twin studies mentioned before.

Through the study, the researchers highlighted limitations in the findings and concluded that there was no concrete evidence to suggest a causal relationship between adolescent marijuana use and IQ decline. This challenged the widely held belief that marijuana use in teens is the cause of increased illicit drug use.

In conclusion, while it's crucial to continue studying the effects of marijuana on adolescents, it's equally important to question prevailing beliefs and assumptions. Misconceptions around marijuana use and its effects on intelligence can contribute to misinformation, leading to ineffective policies and interventions. As more research is conducted, a more accurate understanding of the relationship between teen marijuana use and intelligence will emerge.