By Young Americans are smoking more marijuana than ever before, but the same data show that they are also quitting their drinking habits, raising questions about whether society as a whole is doing better. .
of findings Published Monday in a peer-reviewed journal clinical toxicologypinpointed 338,727 cases of intentional abuse or misuse among American children ages 6-18. Yes, and usually involved over-the-counter products such as vitamins and hormones, Americans have done a pretty good job of keeping drugs away from young children.
Among American youth, cannabis use has increased 245% since 2000, while alcohol abuse has declined steadily over the same period. ‘Young people are ditching alcohol for marijuana’, Neuroscience News report.
“Every year from 2000 to 2013, cases of ethanol abuse outnumbered cases of marijuana,” said Adrienne Hughes, PhD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, one of the study’s authors. says. “Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have surpassed ethanol cases each year, and each year more than before.”
“These edible and e-cigarette products are often marketed in ways that are more appealing to young people and are considered more discreet and convenient,” Hughes said.
The researchers pointed out what most of us already know. The problem with cannabis is that it usually involves edible foods that take hours to creep up on.
“Because addiction from edible marijuana usually takes hours compared to smoking cannabis, which typically gives you an instant high, some people may consume larger amounts and experience unexpected and unpredictable results. You can experience a high,” says Hughes.
Researchers noted 57,488 incidents involving children aged just 6 to 12, but incidents involving vitamins, botanicals, melatonin, hand sanitizers, and other typical household items. did.
The majority of cannabis consumption is 58.3% male vs. female, and more than 80% of all reported cases of cannabis exposure occur in adolescents aged 13 to 18 years.
This report shows how drugs come and go in favor and out of favor over time. Dextromethorphan, the most commonly reported substance during the study period, peaked in 2006 but fell out of favor among American youth.
Adolescent alcohol abuse peaked more than 20 years ago in 2000, with exposure to ethanol causing the most cases of abuse. Since then, alcohol abuse in children has declined steadily year after year.
Cannabis cases, on the other hand, remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2009, with an increase in cases from 2011 and a more rapid increase in cases from 2017 to 2020.
The same pattern is seen in the lower alcohol consumption of American youth. Changes in the types of cannabis products consumed are also evident. However, the increase in unpleasant eating experiences is a concern for the research team.
“Our research shows an increasing trend in exposure to marijuana abuse among young people, especially when it comes to edible products,” says Hughes.
“These findings highlight ongoing concerns about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population.”
The findings are not exactly conclusive. Earlier federally-funded data dismisses the theory that legalization measures are correlated with increased teenage cannabis use.
a study Published in the magazine Nov. American Journal of Preventive Medicine Cannabis legalization was found to be “not significantly associated” with teens’ “self-reported probability or frequency of cannabis use in the past year.” “Young people who spent much of their adolescence under legalization were less likely to use cannabis at age 15 compared to those who spent little or no time under legalization. did.”
