Young people and the
consequences of marijuana
use
http://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”
2
Seattle Times, January 20. 2014
Crisis---Danger and Opportunity
Quiz
• The legal age for recreational marijuana use is
Parents
21
18
30%
19
2%
21
56%
25
25
8%
18
19
Youth
23%
1%
71%
4%
http://learnaboutmarijuanawa.org/
4
Quiz
1.What percent of 10th grade students in
Snoqualmie Valley report using marijuana
in the past 30 days?
Recent Marijuana Use
Past 30 days
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
39
25
10th
22
State
Snoqualmie Valley
27
12th
Washington State Healthy Youth Survey 2010
Recent Cigarette Use
Past 30 days
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
State
Snoqualmie Valley
`
20
13
23
10.5
10th
12th
WA St. Healthy Youth Survey 2010
Perceived Harm is
Related to Teen Use
U.S. Twelfth Graders Reporting Perceived “Great Risk
of Harm” and Marijuana Use in Past Month, 1975-2012
100%
80%
Perceived G reat Risk of Harm
f rom Regular Use
60%
40%
20%
Used in Past Month
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
1976
0%
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.
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, 1195-1198
2Greenblatt, J. (1998), Adolescent self-reported behaviors and their association with marijuana use. National Household
Survey on Drug Abuse, 1994-1996 SAMHSA
3Arseneault, 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 Should
Start Early
Research on marijuana also points to
risks of early initiation
Adults Reporting Illicit Drug Dependence in Past Year
8%
7.2%
6%
4%
2.7%
2%
1.3%
0%
14 or younger
15 to 17
18 or older
Age of Marijuana Initiation
Source: SAMHSA, 2000 National Household
Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).
12
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
New User Proportions for Marijuana Use by
Experiment Conditions
Percent of New Users
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
GGC*
Control
Pretest
Posttest
7th grade
8th grade 10th grade
*previously called Preparing for the Drug Free Years
Spoth, et al 2004.
Parenting Practices are
an Important Risk Factor
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
Source: Washington State Division of
Behavioral Health and Recovery, 2013
18
Parent Norms are an
Important Risk Factor
Children who perceive their parents as
having favorable attitudes toward drug
use were…
5 X more likely
to have tried
th
marijuana by 8 grade
6 X thmore likely to be a frequent user
by 10 grade
Source: Washington State Division of
Behavioral Health and Recovery, 2013
19
Just Like Alcohol……
1. No use under age 21
2. No driving under the
influence
3. No public use
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