A new study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine reports a substantial drop in youth marijuana use over the past decade. Experts delve into the trends and implications for future public health strategies.
Marijuana use among U.S. adolescents has seen a significant decline over the past decade, as revealed by a comprehensive study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine. The study, which analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey between 2011 and 2021, surveyed 88,183 high school students, offering a detailed look into trends by gender, race/ethnicity and school grade.
The research, published in the journal Pediatric Reports, found a marked decrease in the percentage of adolescents reporting current marijuana use. The figures dropped from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021. First-time use before the age of 13 also saw a decline, from 8.1% to 4.9%.
“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,” corresponding author Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, a professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, said in a news release. “This trend highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at older adolescents, who are at a greater risk of regular marijuana use.”
The study also highlighted a shift in usage patterns by gender. By 2021, girls surpassed boys in reported marijuana use, with 17.8% of girls indicating they used marijuana compared to 13.6% of boys. This contrasts with data from 2011, when boys were more likely to use marijuana (25.9%) than girls (20.1%).
Additionally, variations among different racial and ethnic groups were noted. Asian, Hispanic and white adolescents experienced some of the largest declines in marijuana use. In contrast, Black adolescents reported a notably higher percentage of current marijuana use in 2021 (20.5%), compared to white (14.8%), Hispanic (16.7%) and Asian (5.1%) youths.
“In the United States, 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,” co-author Charles H. Hennekens, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at FAU, said in the news release. “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.”
The research underscores the need for proactive measures to sustain the decline in marijuana use among adolescents. Interventions involving parental communication, supervision, health education and positive school climates can play a critical role in preventing early marijuana use.
Regular or heavy marijuana use during adolescence can have serious repercussions on cognitive development, including poor learning, working memory issues and attention deficits. Adolescents who use marijuana are also significantly more likely to have lower grade point averages and face an increased risk of psychosis in adulthood. The study indicates that marijuana use disrupts brain function by reducing synaptic pruning, leading to increased gray matter volume and decreased communication efficiency in higher-order brain areas.
This study emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring and tailored intervention strategies to address marijuana use among U.S. adolescents, aiming to foster healthier outcomes for future generations.