Marijuana Addiction Facts and Statistics
About 1.5% of the population was reported to suffer from marijuana use disorder in 2016 and around 9% of all people who use marijuana are likely to develop an addiction to the drug. This percentage is higher in adolescents with 17% being at risk of developing an addiction.
Some facts on marijuana or cannabis use in the population from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health include:
- Prevalence in Men: Approximately 17.3% of the adult male population in the United States used marijuana over the duration of a year (2016), with 51.6% reporting to have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime.
- Prevalence in Women: Approximately 11.2% of the adult female population was reported to have used marijuana in the previous year with 42.7% reporting to have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime.
- According to a 2014 report based on admission to substance abuse treatment facilities, both men and women over the age of 25 have similar rates of admission for the treatment of marijuana abuse disorder; however, younger females below the age of 25 (12-24 years) had lower rates of admission relative to their male counterparts.
- Teen Abuse: Approximately 15.9% of teenagers had used marijuana once over the previous year in 2016. According to a different statistic on teen marijuana abuse, around 35% (grades 9-12) of high school students had used marijuana at least once in their lifetime.
- Senior Abuse: 3.3% of adults over the age of 65 had used marijuana over a period of 12 months in 2016, with 23.4% having used the drug at least once in their lifetime.
Marijuana Abuse and Treatment Trends in South Florida
Marijuana use in Florida was lower than the national level, according to the NSDUH 2016 survey. The survey showed that 7.65% of individuals over the age of 12 had used marijuana in the month prior to the survey, relative to the national level of 8.6%. Cannabinoids were present in 19.2% of all drug-related deaths and were responsible for eight deaths in 2016, according to a Florida Medical Examiners Commission report.
At the regional level, use rates for high school students actually declined over the period between 2006–2016, with 12.9% of high school students using marijuana in the southern region (13.8% in 2006) in 2016. Around 18.2% of high school students used marijuana in Broward County in 2016, an increase since 2006.
Marijuana Overdose
Although there are no reports of fatalities due to marijuana overdose, high doses of marijuana can cause an overdose and result in psychosis and cardiac toxicities. The chances of overdose are higher due to newer strains of cannabis that have a higher concentration of THC and a lower concentration of CBD. CBD counteracts the psychoactive effects of THC, making it less potent. However, newer strains of cannabis have a higher concentration of THC, making them more potent and more likely to cause an overdose.
The use of cannabis concentrates such as “dabs” may also increase the risk of overdose. The preparation of these concentrates involves using a solvent like butane to extract cannabinoids like THC, which is the chemical that is responsible for the psychoactive properties of the drug. These cannabis concentrates are generally inhaled and have significant adverse effects due to the high concentrations of THC, including cardiovascular toxicities and psychosis. Other symptoms of using dabs include hypertension, hyperthermia, fever and seizure-like activity.
Besides marijuana, laboratory-synthesized chemical compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors are also used for recreational purposes. These synthetic cannabinoids also referred to as “synthetic marijuana” and tend to be more potent than natural marijuana and can contain harmful chemicals. Synthetic cannabinoids are more potent with a higher chance of inducing toxic effects including cardiovascular toxicities, psychosis, organ damage and death.
How to Help Someone Addicted to Marijuana
Marijuana addiction can negatively impact all aspects of the individual’s life, including their social, professional and family life. Approaching a loved one about their substance abuse problem can be difficult and may often be met with a defensive or angry response. It is essential to remain calm and be compassionate about their problem and approach them at a different time.
It’s a good idea to approach your loved one with specific examples of how their addiction has had negative consequences on the people surrounding them and that their drug use is actually a problem. One should remain supportive without blaming or accusing the individual of their behavior and be constructive by approaching them with treatment options for their marijuana abuse.
Marijuana Addiction Treatment Options
Treatment for marijuana addiction generally involves non-pharmacological interventions based on psychosocial approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. There is very little research on the pharmacological treatment of marijuana dependence, with most medications showing little promise. Oral tetrahydrocannabinol has been shown to be effective for treating many of the withdrawal symptoms. Some of the options for the treatment of marijuana addiction include: