04 Sep Americans Increase Marijuana Use as Perceived Risk Falls
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Alejandro Azofeifa
Alejandro Azofeifa, DDS, MSc, MPH
Epidemiologist at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response:
-In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. Because of certain state-level policies that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, population-based data on marijuana use and other related indicators are needed to help monitor behavioral health changes in the United States.
– This SAMHSA surveillance report represents an overview of national estimates for marijuana use and other related indicators among the U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian population aged ≥12 years using 2002–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data. The report includes at least seven important findings. Find more detailed information atSAMHSA surveillance report. Since 2002, marijuana use in the United States has increased among persons aged ≥18 years, but not among those aged 12–17 years. A decrease in the perception of great risk from smoking marijuana combined with increases in the perception of availability (i.e., fairly easy or very easy to obtain marijuana) and fewer punitive legal penalties (e.g., no penalty) for the possession of marijuana for personal use might play a role in increased use among adults.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: – SAMHSA’s surveillance report provides a comprehensive overview (with 13 years of data) of national trend data information on marijuana use and related indicators. Marijuana use is still a major public health concern in the United States. Despite the decline in marijuana use among those aged 12–17 years old (there are still approximately 1.8 million adolescent who reported using marijuana in the past month); the general public should be reminded that marijuana use may lead to both addiction and other health consequences if used especially at early stages of life when the brain is still developing. In addition, the perception of harm of smoking marijuana has been decreasing in all age groups. Changing the perception of harm risk of smoking or using marijuana among all age groups is needed.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: – Given, the current evolving legislative and policy changes across states, national- and state-level surveys (e.g., NSDUH, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, and Youth Risk Behavior Survey) might require modifications to monitor behavioral health changes in the United States. Additional questions about mode of marijuana use (e.g., smoked, vaped, dabbed, eaten, or drunk), specific quantities of marijuana used (not just number of days of use), and reasons for use (e.g., medical, recreational, or both) could be added to existing surveillance systems or launched in new systems.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: -Given that legislation, types of products, use patterns, and evidence for potential harms and benefits of marijuana and its compounds are all evolving, clinicians need to understand the magnitude of marijuana use and associated behaviors so they can provide informed answers to patient questions, screen, counsel, treat, and refer patients to community treatment or counseling centers if abuse or adverse effects are identified.
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Citation:
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Last Updated on September 4, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD