Marijuana: Barely Legal but Dangerous

MARIJUANA: Barely Legal but Dangerous With marijuana legal for recreational use in 2 states and for medical use in 18, more people think it is no big deal, even if they don't smoke themselves. But some of the numbers paint a darker picture, especially for those who start smoking as teens. mane DID YOU KNOW? Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. Of the 7.1 million Americans dependent on illicit drugs, 4.5 million of them (more than 63%) report marijuana as their dependent drug. Marijuana use among high schoolers had been on a gradual decline but started to rise in 2007. As of 2011, one-quarter of students (8th, 10th, 12th grades) had used pot. IS MARIJUANA ADDICTIVE? Overall addiction Those who are Those who are addicted who started addicted who use rate for those who try marijuana using as teens pot daily 9% 16.6% 25 -50% marijuana was the top illegal drug for which people (age 12 and over) sought treatment. 2009 In About 18 percent of those entering treatment reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. ARE NOT YOUR FATHER'S DIME BAG 8.8% 2008 Today's marijuana is much more potent: The level of THC in marijuana samples confiscated by police has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. The concentration more than doubled from 1993 to 2008. By 2009, THC concentrations in marijuana averaged close to 10 percent. 3.4% 1993 MARIJUANA AND THE DEVELOPING MIND A long-term study showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens A Dutch study produced similar results: DI: 8 lost up to Surveys of teens showed that pot use at 16 predicted psychotic symptoms at 19, and those symptoms at 16 predicted pot smoking at 19. points in An Australian study had bi-directional results: It showed teens who smoke pot are twice as likely to develop psychotic symptoms, and teens who experienced hallucinations and delusions were more between ages 13 and 38. The lost cognitive abilities were not restored when they quit smoking marijuana as adults. likely to use pot. MARIJUANA AND MENTAL ILLNESS MARIJUANA Marijuana use has been linked to: Worsening schizophrenia symptoms WITHDRAWAL Psychotic symptoms SYMPTOMS Depression Like any addictive substance, marijuana produces withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped. Anxiety Reer Anxiety Irritability Insomnia Depression SOURCES: Lack of appetite Drug craving http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana Mood swings http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pressreleases/11drugpr.pdf http://headsup.scholastic.com/index.php/articles/the-science-of-mariju ana/ 2010 NSDUH, via http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/marijuana-ad dictive RCx http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/25/us-kids-psychosis-idUSBRE 8BO07D20121225 http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/there-link-bet ween-marijuana-use-mental-illness Recovery Connection® www.recoveryconnection.org http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20487147 MARIJUANA: Barely Legal but Dangerous With marijuana legal for recreational use in 2 states and for medical use in 18, more people think it is no big deal, even if they don't smoke themselves. But some of the numbers paint a darker picture, especially for those who start smoking as teens. mane DID YOU KNOW? Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. Of the 7.1 million Americans dependent on illicit drugs, 4.5 million of them (more than 63%) report marijuana as their dependent drug. Marijuana use among high schoolers had been on a gradual decline but started to rise in 2007. As of 2011, one-quarter of students (8th, 10th, 12th grades) had used pot. IS MARIJUANA ADDICTIVE? Overall addiction Those who are Those who are addicted who started addicted who use rate for those who try marijuana using as teens pot daily 9% 16.6% 25 -50% marijuana was the top illegal drug for which people (age 12 and over) sought treatment. 2009 In About 18 percent of those entering treatment reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. ARE NOT YOUR FATHER'S DIME BAG 8.8% 2008 Today's marijuana is much more potent: The level of THC in marijuana samples confiscated by police has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. The concentration more than doubled from 1993 to 2008. By 2009, THC concentrations in marijuana averaged close to 10 percent. 3.4% 1993 MARIJUANA AND THE DEVELOPING MIND A long-term study showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens A Dutch study produced similar results: DI: 8 lost up to Surveys of teens showed that pot use at 16 predicted psychotic symptoms at 19, and those symptoms at 16 predicted pot smoking at 19. points in An Australian study had bi-directional results: It showed teens who smoke pot are twice as likely to develop psychotic symptoms, and teens who experienced hallucinations and delusions were more between ages 13 and 38. The lost cognitive abilities were not restored when they quit smoking marijuana as adults. likely to use pot. MARIJUANA AND MENTAL ILLNESS MARIJUANA Marijuana use has been linked to: Worsening schizophrenia symptoms WITHDRAWAL Psychotic symptoms SYMPTOMS Depression Like any addictive substance, marijuana produces withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped. Anxiety Reer Anxiety Irritability Insomnia Depression SOURCES: Lack of appetite Drug craving http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana Mood swings http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pressreleases/11drugpr.pdf http://headsup.scholastic.com/index.php/articles/the-science-of-mariju ana/ 2010 NSDUH, via http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/marijuana-ad dictive RCx http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/25/us-kids-psychosis-idUSBRE 8BO07D20121225 http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/there-link-bet ween-marijuana-use-mental-illness Recovery Connection® www.recoveryconnection.org http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20487147