Cannabis use among adolescents in the US has shot up by over 240 percent since 2000, according to a new study that pointed out a “decline” in alcohol abuse.
The research, published recently in Clinical Toxicology, shed more light on the recent trends of intentional substance misuse and abuse among school-aged children and adolescents in the US.
In the study, scientists from Oregon Health and Science University in the US tracked data on intentional misuse and abuse reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) until 2020.
They found over 338,000 instances of intentional abuse or misuse among American children aged 6-18, of which 32 percent resulted in “worse than minor clinical outcomes”.
“These findings highlight an ongoing concern about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population,” Adrienne Hughes, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement.
The findings also reveal a change in patterns of substance abuse in the US over time.
Citing an example, researchers said the largest number of abuse cases among children in 2000 involved alcohol exposure, which has since “declined”.
In contrast, cannabis use has remained relatively stable from 2000-09, steadily rising from 2011, with a more dramatic rise in cases from 2017-20.
Dextromethorphan, another substance that was the most reported over the study period, peaked in 2006 and has since decreased in use.
“Ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana cases every year from 2000 until 2013. Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have exceeded ethanol cases every year, and by a greater amount each year than the prior,” Dr. Hughes said.
The edible form of cannabis showed the highest average monthly increase compared to all other forms, suggesting adolescents have moved away from smoking cannabis to alternative modes of consumption.
“Ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana cases every year from 2000 until 2013. Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have exceeded ethanol cases every year, and by a greater amount each year than the prior,” Dr. Hughes said.
The edible form of cannabis showed the highest average monthly increase compared to all other forms, suggesting adolescents have moved away from smoking cannabis to alternative modes of consumption.
Citing a limitation of the study, researchers said the exposure cases were classified either as abuse or misuse.
“It is possible that additional misuse or abuse cases were classified otherwise and thus were missed,” they say.
