14 DAY TRIAL // About a week ago, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study showing that, between the years 1997 and 2013, the number of American teens using marijuana more than doubled.
Now, another investigation published this past Thursday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry argues that, according to data at hand, the same is true about the country's adult population.
Specifically, this study says that, between 2001 and 2013, the number of adults using marijuana shot up from 4.1% to 9.5%. At the same time, the prevalence of disorders such as abuse or dependence also went up, going from 1.5% in 2001-2002 to 2.9% in 2012-2013.
“The estimated prevalence of adults who used marijuana in the past year more than doubled in the US between 2001 and 2013,” reads a summary report detailing the study's findings.
“The prevalence of a diagnosis of a past-year marijuana use disorder (abuse or dependence) also increased,” the research team behind this investigation further detail in their summary report.
The scientists point the finger at changing laws and attitudes
Presently, recreational marijuana is legal in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Then, a total of 23 states have laws allowing the use of the drug for medical purposes.
Both the study released last week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and this new one in the journal JAMA Psychiatry propose that the reason marijuana use is on the rise across the country has something to do with changing attitudes about the drug.
What's interesting is that, by the looks of it, not all people are equally affected by changing marijuana laws. Thus, the increase in use researchers documented between the years 2001 and 2013 in the country's adult population was linked to very specific social groups.
The drug was found to have grown especially popular among women, black or Hispanic individuals, people living in southern states, and middle-aged or maybe older individuals.
People must be told about the risks associated with this drug
While there are many studies testifying that marijuana can help manage diseases like cancer and even epilepsy, researchers caution that this does not change the fact that, in some cases, people can become addicted to it.
Hence, it makes sense that, as more states are getting ready to legalize the drug, be it for recreational or medical purposes, efforts be made to educate people about the risks that come with using marijuana.
“The clear risk for marijuana use disorders among users (approximately 30%) suggests that as the number of US users grows, so will the numbers of those experiencing problems related to such use,” specialists argue.