Marijuana use among adolescents in the U.S. has significantly decreased over the past decade, with notable differences across gender, grade levels, and racial/ethnic groups.
A recent study from Florida Atlantic University reveals that older students and Black adolescents report higher usage, while gender dynamics show a shift, with girls surpassing boys in marijuana use by 2021.
Marijuana Use Among Adolescents
Marijuana is now one of the most commonly used illicit substances among U.S. adolescents. With more states legalizing recreational marijuana for adults and a decreasing perception of risk among young people, monitoring trends in youth marijuana use has become increasingly important.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine conducted an in-depth study analyzing data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which included responses from 88,183 adolescents in grades nine through twelve, collected between 2011 and 2021. The study examined overall trends in marijuana use as well as variations based on gender, race/ethnicity, and school grade. These findings offer valuable insights into how marijuana use among American teens is shifting over time.
Declining Trends in Marijuana Use
The study, published on October 14 in the journal Pediatric Reports, reveals that one of the most striking results from the analysis is the significant decrease in the percentage of adolescents reporting current marijuana use. In 2011, 23.1% of adolescents indicated they were current users, but by 2021, this figure had dropped to 15.8%. Additionally, the percentage of adolescents trying marijuana for the first time before age 13 also saw a notable decline, from 8.1% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2021.
Marijuana Use by Grade Level
In 2021, marijuana use was most prevalent among 12th graders (22.4%), followed by 11th graders (18.7%), with lower usage rates in the earlier grades. From 2011 to 2021, all grades experienced a notable decline in current marijuana use, especially among ninth graders. While there was an overall downward trend over the years, there were slight increases in use in 2013 and again in 2019.
“While we observed an overall decline from 2011 to 2021 across all grades, older students consistently reported higher usage, particularly 12th graders. This suggests that as adolescents advance through high school, they may have greater access to marijuana, influenced by more developed peer networks and increased independence,” said Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., corresponding author and professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “This trend highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at older adolescents, who are at a greater risk of regular marijuana use.”
Gender Differences in Marijuana Use
One of the most significant findings of this study is the shift in trends by gender, with girls surpassing boys in reported marijuana use by 2021. In 2021, girls reported a higher prevalence of current marijuana use (17.8%) than boys (13.6%). This marks a significant change from 2011 when boys were more likely to use marijuana (25.9%) compared to girls (20.1%). The convergence of usage rates among genders highlights an evolving dynamic that could reflect broader societal changes in attitudes toward marijuana.
Racial Disparities in Marijuana Use
The researchers also found variations among Asian, Hispanic, and White adolescents, who experienced some of the steepest declines in current use. In 2021, however, Black adolescents reported a notably higher percentage of current marijuana use at 20.5%, compared to their White (14.8%), Hispanic (16.7%), and Asian (5.1%) counterparts. This indicates a persistent racial disparity in marijuana use among adolescents that warrants further examination.
Impact of Marijuana Legalization
“In the U.S. the current landscape of marijuana legalization in adults adds a complex layer to the issues of adolescent marijuana use. As more states continue to legalize recreational marijuana, the accessibility and perceived normalcy of the drug may increase, particularly for adolescents who may view its legal status as an indication of safety or acceptability,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., FACPM, co-author, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine in the departments of medicine and population health and social medicine, and senior academic advisor, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine.
“Research suggests that marijuana legalization in adults can influence adolescent behavior through their perceptions of less risk as well as increased availability, both of which may impede efforts to reduce adolescent use.”
Importance of Intervention and Prevention
The authors emphasize the importance of interventions like parental communication, supervision, and modeling, alongside schools offering effective health education and fostering a positive school climate, to sustain the decline in adolescent marijuana use.
Findings from the study highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and intervention strategies to address marijuana use among U.S. adolescents. By focusing on the specific needs of various demographic groups, including different grade levels, genders, and racial/ethnic communities, public health initiatives can more effectively address the risks associated with adolescent marijuana use and foster healthier outcomes for future generations.
Risks Associated With Adolescent Marijuana Use
Regular or heavy marijuana use during adolescence can adversely affect cognitive development, leading to poor learning, working memory issues, and attention deficits, regardless of educational background or verbal intelligence. Adolescents who use marijuana are two to three-and-a-half times more likely to have lower grade point averages and face a fourfold increase in psychosis diagnoses in adulthood.
Research shows that marijuana use disrupts brain function by reducing synaptic pruning, resulting in increased gray matter volume and decreased communication efficiency in higher-order brain areas.
Reference: “Trends in Marijuana Use among Adolescents in the United States” by Jack Yang, Maria C. Mejia, Lea Sacca, Charles H. Hennekens and Panagiota Kitsantas, 14 October 2024, Pediatric Reports.
DOI: 10.3390/pediatric16040074
Study co-authors are Jack Yang, first author and a second-year FAU medical student; Maria C. Mejia, M.D., a professor; and Lea Sacca, Ph.D., an assistant professor, both within the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine.
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