Study: 6 Million Americans Suffer Marijuana Use Disorder

April 14, 2016

Almost 6 million people met the criteria for a marijuana use disorder from 2012 to 2013, an increase of more than 5 percent from 2001 to 2002, according to a recent study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

A total of 2.5 percent of American adults could have been diagnosed with a marijuana use disorder in the year prior to the time frame studied, and 6.3 percent of adults met the criteria at some point during their life.

A marijuana use disorder can refer to marijuana abuse or dependence. The disorder is diagnosed by evaluating symptoms such as lack of control, cravings, withdrawal and negative consequences associated with drug use.

“The new analysis complements previous population-level studies by (the authors of the study) that show that marijuana use can lead to harmful consequences for individuals and society,” said Dr. George Koob, director of the NIAAA, in a press release.

The overall increase in the number of people with the disorder was attributed to the growing number of people consuming marijuana nationally. An estimated 30 percent of marijuana users developed a marijuana use disorder, similar to the rate from the previous decade.

The authors interviewed 36,000 adults about alcohol use, drug use and mental health disorders from 2012 to 2013 and found men are about twice as likely as women to suffer from a marijuana use disorder.

Adults 45 and younger are also more likely than adults older than 45 to experience the disorder. Adults in their early 20s were the most likely to develop the disorder, which usually receded three to four years after it began.

Marijuana Use Disorders Associated with Mental Health Issues

The researchers found that people who suffer from marijuana use disorders are more likely to experience other mental health disorders, including problems with alcohol addiction or drug abuse.

Mental health problems tend to continue even after the marijuana use disorder ends, too, and only seven percent of people suffering from a marijuana use disorder in the last year received treatment for it.

“These findings demonstrate that people with marijuana use disorder are vulnerable to other mental health disorders,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in a press release. “The study emphasizes the need for such individuals to receive help through evidence-based treatments that address these co-occurring conditions.”

The researchers concluded that there was a need for a fair presentation of the side effects of marijuana consumption aimed at policymakers, health care professionals and the public.

OB-GYNs Fail to Warn Pregnant Women Who Consume Marijuana

Another recent study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found 48 percent of OB-GYNs did not offer counseling or ignored disclosures about marijuana consumption from pregnant women.

The health professionals who did discuss marijuana use failed to provide adequate warnings about dangers for the prenatal child. Instead, they responded with generalized statements, discussions about toxicity during urine tests and warnings about the involvement of child protective services if marijuana were detected during delivery.

“Our results suggest a need for health care provider training on potential consequences of perinatal marijuana use and communication skills for counseling patients about perinatal marijuana,” the authors concluded.

An estimated 123,000 women consumed marijuana during pregnancy in 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Marijuana use has been associated with several risks to the baby, including premature birth, low birth weight, development problems and behavioral problems, according to NIDA.

Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

View Sources

• Hasin, D. S. et al. (2015, December 1). Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United State Between 2001 – 2002 and 2012 – 2013. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502112
• Holland, C. et al. (2016, March 7). Obstetric Health Care Providers’ Counseling responses to Pregnant Patient Disclosures of Marijuana Use. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/publishahead/Obstetric_Health_Care_Providers__Counseling.98797.aspx
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016, March). Can marijuana use during and after pregnancy harm the baby? Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/can-marijuana-use-during-pregnancy-harm-baby
• National Institutes of Health. (2016, March 4). Marijuana use disorder is common and often untreated [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/marijuana-use-disorder-common-often-untreated
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015, September 10). Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs2014/NSDUH-DetTabs2014.pdf

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