Marijuana: Age at First Use Has Impact
A
new report from SAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies (OAS),
Age at First Use of Marijuana and Past Year Serious
Mental Illness, found that among persons age 18
or older, those who first used marijuana before age 12
were twice as likely to have serious mental illness in
the past year as those who first used marijuana at age
18 or older."Kids today are using marijuana at younger ages, putting them at greater risk for future health and mental health problems," said Mr. Curie. "We have found that younger persons who start smoking marijuana are at greater risk of developing an addiction and serious mental illness later in life."
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug, and it is usually the first drug used by persons who use illicit drugs.
The report, from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), cites recent research pointing to an association between early marijuana use and a heightened risk of developing schizophrenia or other psychological disorders.
http://www.samhsa.gov/SAMHSA_News/VolumeXIII_3/article7.htm