Regular use of cannabis during adolescence has been linked to poor cognitive outcomes. As recent changes to cannabis legalization have increased the availability of cannabis products, understanding cannabis use trends among adolescents is crucial for improving public policy.
“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.” said co-author of the study, Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., FACPM, co-author, Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, in a press release.
In the current study, researchers analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey gathered between 2011 and 2021, which included 88, 183 adolescents in grades nine through 12. Whereas 23.1% of adolescents reported current cannabis use in 2011, the same was true for just 15.8% in 2021. The percentage of adolescents trying cannabis for the first time before the age of 13 decreased from 8.1% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2021.
“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 corresponding study author, Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in a press release.
“This trend highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at older adolescents, who are at a greater risk of regular marijuana use,” she added.
The researchers further found that although cannabis use declined for both girls and boys over time, girls reported higher rates of current cannabis use than boys in 2021. Whereas 17.8% of girls reported current cannabis use, the same was true for 13.6% of boys. This contrasts findings from 2011, when 25.9% of boys used cannabis compared to 20.1% of girls. Such changes in use rates may reflect broader societal changes in attitudes to cannabis.
The study highlights a need for continued monitoring and intervention strategies to address cannabis use among adolescents in the US. Focusing on the specific needs of different demographics, including grade levels, genders, and races/ ethnic communities, could help public health initiatives foster better outcomes for future generations.
Sources: EurekAlert, Pediatric Reports