42 Marijuana Addiction Statistics

Marijuana is becoming more and more common in today's society. With the legalization of marijuana in several states, the drug is more accessible than ever. However, marijuana addiction is a real issue that affects many people. Here are 42 marijuana addiction statistics to help you better understand the impact of this drug:

Top 10 Key Marijuana Addiction Statistics

1. About 9% of marijuana users will become addicted to the drug.
2. Marijuana use disorder is most common among those who use marijuana daily and those who start using it at a young age.
3. In 2019, approximately 4.3 million people aged 12 or older had a marijuana use disorder in the past year.
4. The number of people seeking treatment for marijuana addiction has increased over the years, from 199,000 in 2000 to 361,000 in 2017.
5. Marijuana use can lead to impaired driving and increase the risk of car accidents. In fact, a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that marijuana use was involved in 9% of fatal crashes in 2018.
6. Long-term marijuana use can affect memory and learning ability. A meta-analysis of 31 studies found that regular marijuana use was associated with significantly lower scores on tests of memory and attention, compared to non-users.
7. Marijuana use during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus and may lead to low birth weight and developmental delays. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, premature birth, and small-for-gestational-age infants.
8. About one-third of individuals who seek treatment for marijuana addiction also have a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 36% of people seeking treatment for marijuana use disorder in 2019 also had a co-occurring mental health disorder.
9. Withdrawal symptoms from marijuana addiction can include irritability, insomnia, decreased appetite, and anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that among daily cannabis users who tried to quit, 47% experienced withdrawal symptoms.
10. Regular marijuana use can lead to tolerance and dependence on the drug, making it more difficult to quit. According to a review article published in the journal Addiction, about 9% of people who use marijuana will become addicted to it, rising to about 17% in those who start using in adolescence.

Marijuana Addiction Teen Statistics

• 1 in 10 teens who use marijuana will become addicted.
• 7% of 8th graders, 19% of 10th graders, and 22% of 12th graders have used marijuana in the past month.
• Marijuana use among teens is associated with a higher risk of dropping out of school.
• Teens who use marijuana are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex and driving under the influence.

Marijuana Addiction by Age

• Among adults aged 18 to 25, about 16.7% have a marijuana use disorder.
• The rate of past-year marijuana use among adults aged 26 or older is highest for those aged 26 to 34 (21.5%), followed by those aged 35 to 49 (14.4%) and those aged 50 or older (6.8%).
• In the past year, approximately 1 million adults aged 50 or older had a marijuana use disorder.
• In one study, researchers found that individuals who started using marijuana in their teens were more likely to develop an addiction than those who started using it later in life.
• The prevalence of marijuana use disorder is higher among men (about 10%) than women (about 6%).
• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the rate of past-month marijuana use in the United States was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29%).
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that about one-third of people seeking treatment for marijuana addiction are between the ages of 18 and 25.
• A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children who start using marijuana before age 18 are more likely to have lower cognitive function and lower academic achievement later in life compared to their peers who do not use marijuana.

Marijuana Addiction by Gender

• Men are more likely to use marijuana than women. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019, 15.5% of men aged 12 or older reported using marijuana in the past month, compared to 11.5% of women.
• However, women may be more susceptible to the addictive effects of marijuana. A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that women were more likely than men to experience withdrawal symptoms and report difficulty quitting.
• Men are more likely to seek treatment for marijuana addiction than women. According to SAMHSA, in 2019, 63% of people seeking treatment for marijuana use disorder were male.
• Women who use marijuana during pregnancy may be more likely to have a child with developmental delays or behavioral problems than men who use it during pregnancy. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that prenatal exposure to marijuana was associated with a higher risk of behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and impulsivity in girls but not boys.
• Women who use hormonal birth control may experience stronger effects from marijuana due to changes in hormone levels. A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that women who used hormonal contraceptives had higher blood levels of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) after using the drug compared to non-users.
• Lesbian and bisexual women may be at higher risk for marijuana addiction than heterosexual women. A study published in the journal Addiction found that lesbian and bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual women to report regular cannabis use and dependence.
• Transgender individuals may also be at increased risk for marijuana addiction due to stress related to discrimination and stigma. A study published in Substance Abuse found that transgender adults were more likely than cisgender adults (those whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth) to report using drugs including marijuana as a way to cope with discrimination and stress.

Marijuana Addiction by Race

• In 2019, the rate of past-month marijuana use was highest among adults aged 18 to 25 who identified as two or more races (43.4%), followed by those who identified as white (24.3%) and those who identified as black or African American (21.2%).
• According to SAMHSA, in 2019, the rate of past-year marijuana use disorder was highest among adults who identified as two or more races (12.4%), followed by those who identified as white (6.8%) and those who identified as black or African American (5.9%).
• A study published in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse found that among adolescents aged 12 to 17 with a history of marijuana use, Hispanic/Latino youth had the highest rates of cannabis use disorder compared to youth from other racial/ethnic groups.
• Another study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that black individuals were less likely than white individuals to receive treatment for substance use disorders including marijuana addiction, despite having similar rates of substance use.
• The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in 2019, the rate of past-month marijuana use was highest among adults who identified as two or more races (14.6%), followed by those who identified as white (11.7%) and those who identified as black or African American (9%).
• A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that black individuals were more likely than white individuals to experience withdrawal symptoms during attempts to quit using marijuana.
• According to SAMHSA, in 2019, adults who identified as two or more races had the highest percentage seeking treatment for marijuana addiction at admission out of all racial/ethnic groups at 19%, followed by whites at 16%.

Marijuana Addiction in the U.S.

• In 2019, approximately 19.8 million people aged 12 or older used marijuana in the past month.
• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 43% of adults in the U.S. have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime.
• In 2019, an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. had a marijuana use disorder that went untreated.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that in 2019, about 6% of all admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities were for marijuana addiction.
• A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that states with legalized medical marijuana had higher rates of cannabis use disorder than those without medical legalization.
• The rate of past-month marijuana use among college students is higher than among non-college peers, according to a survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). In fact, NIDA reports that daily or near-daily marijuana use among college students is at its highest level since the early 1980s.
• Marijuana use is becoming increasingly common among older adults as well. According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, past-year marijuana use among adults aged 65 and older increased from 0.4% in 2006 to almost 4% in 2018.

Marijuana Addiction per Country

• Nigeria has the world’s highest rate of cannabis use, with 19.4% of its population aged 15+ having consumed it in the past year.
• In Canada, about 15.8% of people who use marijuana will become addicted to it. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, in 2022, an estimated 13.2% of Canadians aged 15 or older reported using marijuana in the past three months.
• In Australia, approximately 1 in 6 people who use marijuana will become addicted to it. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that in 2019, about 11.6% of Australians aged 14 or older had used marijuana in the past year.
• In the United Kingdom, about 1 in 11 people who use marijuana will become addicted to it. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that in England alone, there are approximately 2 million regular marijuana users.
• In Spain, approximately 10% of people who use marijuana will become addicted to it. A study published in the journal Adicciones found that among young adults aged 18 to 25 who used cannabis regularly, about half met criteria for cannabis use disorder.
• In Germany, an estimated 1.4 million people have a cannabis use disorder. According to the German Federal Centre for Health Education, about 5% of Germans aged between 18 and29 years old reported daily or almost daily cannabis consumption in the past year.
• In France, approximately one-third of all drug-related hospitalizations are due to problems related to cannabis use. A report by the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found that among young adults aged between17 and34 years old who reported using cannabis at least once a month, one-third met criteria for cannabis dependence.
• In Mexico, an estimated 3 million people have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. According to a survey by Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2020, about 8.6% of Mexicans aged 12 or older reported using marijuana in the past year.

These statistics demonstrate the widespread impact of marijuana addiction across different age groups and demographics in the U.S., highlighting the need for continued research and effective treatment options for those struggling with this issue.

Conclusion

Marijuana addiction is a complex issue that affects individuals from all walks of life. The statistics presented in this article demonstrate the widespread impact of marijuana addiction across different age groups, genders, and races in the U.S.

While marijuana may be seen as a harmless drug by some, it can lead to dependence and negative consequences for those who use it regularly. It's important for individuals struggling with marijuana addiction to seek help and support from healthcare professionals or addiction treatment centers.

By continuing to research and raise awareness about this issue, we can better understand the causes and effects of marijuana addiction and work towards effective solutions for those impacted by it.

Sources:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3930618/
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-use-affect-your-brain-body
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/
• https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/cannabis-usage-by-country/

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