Marijuana Abuse Statistics

How Common Is Marijuana Abuse?

Marijuana abuse is rather common.

Since the first legalization of medical marijuana in California in 1996, many states now allow recreational use or medical use despite the substance remaining illegal on the federal level.

Marijuana (also called cannabis) is far safer than legal, easily accessible substances like alcohol or tobacco, with no overdoses ever reported. However, despite its many medical applications, the substance still has the potential for abuse in certain individuals.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug in the past year, with 22% of people aged 12 or older (or 61.9 million people) using it in the past year.

Yale Medicine reports that around 10% of people who begin smoking cannabis will form an addiction or cannabis use disorder, and 30% of current users meet the criteria for cannabis addiction.

Marijuana Abuse by Age

People of all ages abuse marijuana, but young adults aged 18 to 25 make up a large percentage of the population who abuse the substance or meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder.

• According to the 2022 NSDUH, the following percentage of age groups abused marijuana:
  • 5% or 2.9 million people adolescents aged 12 to 17
  • 2% or 13.3 million people aged 18 to 25
  • 6% or 45.7 million adults aged 26 or older
• Yale Medicine reports that people in their mid-to-late adolescence are most likely to become marijuana users.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that almost 40% of high school students have reported trying marijuana.
• The CDC also reports that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder, with those using before age 18 having an even greater risk of developing marijuana use disorder.

Marijuana Abuse by Gender

Marijuana use is common among all genders. However, there are some notable differences observed between male and female marijuana users.

• According to research from Washington State University, men are more likely to use and become dependent on cannabis.
• The same study shows that men are also more likely to use cannabis for medicinal purposes and initiate use at a younger age than women.
• Several studies indicate that women with cannabis use disorder experience something called the “telescoping effect,” meaning that women meet the criteria and seek treatment for cannabis use disorder after fewer years of marijuana use compared to men.

Marijuana Abuse by Ethnicity

According to SAMHSA’s 2022 NSDUH report, the percentage of people aged 12 or older who used marijuana in the past year includes:

• Multiracial (31.1%)
• Black (23.5%)
• White (22.9%)
• Hispanic (20.3%)
• Asian people (11.2%)
• American Indian or Alaska Native people (27.3%)

The 2022 NSDUH also indicates that Asian people were less likely to have used marijuana in the past year compared with people in other racial or ethnic groups.

Marijuana Use in Young People

Marijuana is most commonly used by young people, especially by young adults and adolescents. Although marijuana overdose deaths have never been reported, the effects of marijuana abuse can still be harmful to young people.

Adolescents

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports marijuana use can have serious adverse effects on still-developing brains. Infants, children, and teens are especially susceptible to the adverse health effects of cannabis.

• Studies from the Oregon Health and Science University found more than 338,000 instances of intentional abuse or misuse among American children aged 6 to 18.
• The CDC indicates that the risk of developing cannabis use disorder is even greater for people who begin to use it before age 18.
• Data from the Monitoring the Future survey shows that in 2022, 30.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year, and 6.3% reported using marijuana daily.
• The same survey showed that nearly 20.6% of 12th graders reported that they vaped marijuana in the past year, and 2.1% reported that they did so daily.

Young Adults

Young adults account for the most significant percentage of marijuana use in America. As more states have legalized marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational use, that number is expected to rise.

Of those who use marijuana, NIDA reports that 9% of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. That statistic rises to about 17% for those who started using in their teens.

• According to the 2022 NSDUH, 38.2% or 13.3 million people aged 18 to 25 used marijuana.
• The Oregon State University found that, since marijuana legalization, use among those in college only increased 1% after legalization, from 20% to 21%, while use among those not in college rose five percentage points, from 23% to 28%.

Treatment Approaches for Marijuana Abuse and Addiction

Although some patients addicted to marijuana may require comprehensive treatment like inpatient rehab or medical detox, it’s often due to other substance use issues. Most individuals with marijuana use disorder find success through addiction therapy and support groups.

The most common type of addiction therapy used for marijuana addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT helps patients identify the thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to addictive behaviors. With the guidance of a therapist, patients can develop strategies to change their behavior.

Other therapies that have proved effective for marijuana addiction include:

• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
• Contingency management (CM)
• Family therapy

Get Help for Marijuana Addiction

Addressing marijuana addiction can be very challenging, especially as more states legalize the use of marijuana and increase the substance’s accessibility.

However, legalization has helped researchers learn more about the study and develop better treatments for people who do form an addiction.

With improved research, healthcare providers are fully equipped to assist you or your loved ones in seeking treatment for marijuana use.

If you believe you or a loved one may have problems with marijuana, you can start by speaking with your doctor or mental healthcare provider.

You can also try SAMHSA’s online treatment locator to learn what treatment centers are available in your area.