From 1995 to 2012, youth marijuana treatment admissions increased while the severity of drug involvement among those admitted dramatically decreased, suggesting changing thresholds for treatment referral.
Read this if you want to understand what rising teen marijuana treatment numbers actually mean about the severity of youth cannabis use.
Youth marijuana admissions rose while drug severity dramatically dropped over 18 years
What the researchers found
This study examined national trends in youth marijuana treatment admissions from 1995 to 2012 using over 12 million treatment records.
Two divergent trends emerged: the number of youth admitted to substance abuse treatment for marijuana steadily increased, while the degree of drug involvement (severity of use) among those admitted dramatically dropped over nearly two decades.
The increasing admissions were largely youth in dependent living situations (living with parents), suggesting many were referred by parents, schools, or courts rather than seeking treatment voluntarily for severe problems.
The decreasing severity suggests that changing perceptions and policies around marijuana may have lowered the threshold for treatment referral. Youth who would not have been referred to treatment in earlier years were now entering the treatment system, even though their level of marijuana involvement was less severe.
Why it matters
This study reframes the narrative around increasing youth marijuana treatment admissions. Rather than indicating worsening marijuana problems among youth, the trend may reflect lower tolerance for marijuana use by schools, parents, and courts, resulting in treatment referrals for less severe use.
The numbers in context
Over 12 million treatment admissions analyzed from 1995 to 2012. Increasing admissions of youth in dependent living (with parents). Dramatic decrease in drug involvement severity over 18 years.
How the study worked
Analysis of first-time substance abuse treatment admissions among youth using the Treatment Episode Data Set-Admissions (TEDS-A) from SAMHSA (N = 12,025,787). Chi-squared analysis examined differences between admission years, and binomial logistic regression examined trends from 1995 to 2012.
What this study cannot tell us
Administrative treatment data does not capture clinical outcomes. Changes in referral patterns, funding, and available treatment programs over 18 years confound interpretation. The study cannot determine whether early intervention for mild use prevents escalation.
How to read the evidence
Large national administrative dataset spanning 18 years. Moderate because the scope is impressive but administrative data cannot capture clinical nuance.
When this study was published
Published in 2017, covering 1995-2012.
The bigger picture
The disconnect between increasing admissions and decreasing severity raises important resource allocation questions. If youth with mild marijuana use are filling treatment slots designed for severe substance use, this could divert resources from those with greater need. Screening and brief intervention tools may be more appropriate for many of these youth.
Questions still open
- Are youth with low-severity marijuana use benefiting from formal treatment, or would screening and brief intervention be more appropriate? Has the trend continued since legalization in several states? Are treatment resources being optimally allocated?
Common questions
Are more teens having marijuana problems?
Should all teen marijuana users go to treatment?
Read the original research
Trends of Youth Marijuana Treatment Admissions: Increasing Admissions Contrasted with Decreasing Drug Involvement.
Substance use & misuse, 52(13), 1778-1783
Citation
Marzell, Miesha; Sahker, Ethan; Arndt, Stephan. (2017). Trends of Youth Marijuana Treatment Admissions: Increasing Admissions Contrasted with Decreasing Drug Involvement.. Substance use & misuse, 52(13), 1778-1783. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2017.1311349
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