Young people and the consequences of marijuana

usehttp://learnaboutmarijuanawa.org/

Kevin Haggerty, Ph. D.Social Development Research Group,

University of Washington, School of Social Work

A National Coversation….

“Smoking marijuana is not something I encourage and I’ve told my daughters that it’s a bad idea, a waste of time, and not very healthy”

2Seattle Times, January 20. 2014

Crisis---Danger and Opportunity

Quiz

• The legal age for recreational marijuana use is

18192125

4

Parents Youth

18 30% 23%

19 2% 1%

21 56% 71%

25 8% 4%

http://learnaboutmarijuanawa.org/

Quiz

1.What percent of 10th grade students in Snoqualmie Valley report using marijuana in the past 30 days?

Recent Marijuana UsePast 30 days

25 2227

39

0102030405060708090

100

10th 12th

StateSnoqualmie Valley

Washington State Healthy Youth Survey 2010

Recent Cigarette UsePast 30 days

13 10.520 23

0102030405060708090

100

10th 12th

StateSnoqualmie Valley

`

WA St. Healthy Youth Survey 2010

Perceived Harm is Related to Teen Use

Source: Adapted by CESAR from University of Michigan, “The Rise in Teen Marijuana Use Stalls, Synthetic Marijuana Use Levels, and Use of ‘Bath Salts’ Is Very Low,” Monitoring the Future Drug and Alcohol Press Release: Text, Figures, & Tables, December 19, 2012; and Institute for Behavior and Health (IBH), “National Youth Survey Shows Five-Year Increases in Marijuana Use,” IBH Commentary, December 28, 2012.

U.S. Twelfth Graders Reporting Perceived “Great Risk of Harm” and Marijuana Use in Past Month,

1975-2012

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Perceived Great Risk of Harm from Regular Use

Used in Past Month

8

THC potency is increasing

Potency monitoring project: ONDCP 2010

Research on Marijuana and Mental Health

• Young people who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of depression.1

• Teens aged 12-17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts.2

• Evidence of increased risk for schizophrenia in later years.3

• Early heavy use can reduce IQ, and may effect brain development.4

1Patton, G.C., et. al. (2002) Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. BMJ 325, 1195-11982Greenblatt, J. (1998), Adolescent self-reported behaviors and their association with marijuana use. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1994-1996 SAMHSA3Arseneault, L., et. al. (2002), Cannabis use in adolescence and risk for adult psychosis longitudinal prospective study. BMJ 325, 1212-1213.4. Meier, M.H., Caspi, A., (2012) Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife, PNAS

Quiz

1. Is marijuana addictive?

Prevention ShouldStart Early

Research on marijuana also points to risks of early initiation

12Source: SAMHSA, 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).

14 or younger 15 to 17 18 or older0%

2%

4%

6%

8% 7.2%

2.7%

1.3%

Age of Marijuana Initiation

Adults Reporting Illicit Drug Dependence in Past Year

15% of daily users become addicted and have…..

• Higher school drop-out rates• Lower I.Q. • Increased anxiety, depression• People use marijuana to get happy, but we

see distortion of thought, time, and• Paranoia• Chronic bronchitis.

13

Marijuana is ADDICTIVE and ILLEGAL

DBHR, 2012

Criteria for Cannabis Dependence

– Taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.– Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use.– A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain cannabis, use, or recover

from its effects.– Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use.– Recurrent use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or

home.– Continued use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems

caused or exacerbated by the effects of cannabis.– Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced

because of use.– Recurrent use in situations in which it is physically hazardous.– Use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or

psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by cannabis.– Tolerance– Withdrawal symptoms (specified)

15

Quiz

• Can marijuana use be prevented?

16

Guiding Good Choices –Preventing Marijuana Use

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18%20%

Pretest Posttest 7th grade 8th grade 10th grade

Perc

ent

of N

ew U

sers

New User Proportions for Marijuana Use by Experiment Conditions

GGC*Control

Spoth, et al 2004.*previously called Preparing for the Drug Free Years

Parenting Practices are an Important Risk Factor

Source: Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, 2013

Children in families with poor family management (unclear expectations, poor monitoring, inconsistent discipline) were…

3X more likely to be a frequent marijuana user by 10th grade

18

Children who perceive their parents as having favorable attitudes toward drug use were…

5 X more likely to have tried marijuana by 8th grade6 X more likely to be a frequent user by 10th grade

Parent Norms are anImportant Risk Factor

Source: Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, 2013

19

Just Like Alcohol……1. No use under age 212. No driving under the

influence3. No public use

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