[ad_1]
Teens and teens who try marijuana or abuse prescription drugs are more likely to develop an addiction disorder than young adults at least 18, according to a new analysis of federal data.
The study, led by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), highlights the vulnerability of adolescents to substance abuse disorders and the importance of drug testing in younger populations.
Researchers studied the effects of nine different drugs on adolescents 12 to 17 years old and young adults 18 to 25 years old: tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and prescription opioids, stimulants and tranquilizers.
The study found that within a year of trying marijuana for the first time, about 11% of teens had become addicted, compared to 6.4% of young adults. After three years, 20 percent of adolescents have become addicted, compared to about 11 percent of young adults.
“Although not all people who use a drug become addicted, adolescents can become addicted to substances more quickly than young adults. This study provides further evidence that delaying exposure to a substance until ‘a more fully developed brain can reduce the risk of developing a substance use disorder. Nora Volkow, director of NIDA and lead author of the analysis, said in a statement.
The numbers were similarly high among teens who reported prescription opioid use disorder, prescription stimulant use disorder, and prescription tranquilizer use disorder.
About 11 percent of teens who took prescription opioids recreationally developed a substance use disorder within a year, compared to about 7 percent of young adults.
About 14 percent of teens who took prescription stimulants developed a substance use disorder within one year, compared to about 4 percent of young adults, and about 11 percent of teens had a substance use disorder. of prescription tranquilizers, compared to 4.7 percent of young adults.
There was not much difference for alcohol and tobacco. According to the study, adolescents and young adults had a similar prevalence of substance use disorders in the past year within 12 months of starting treatment, but it was higher in young adults. in later years.
When it comes to cocaine and heroin, the number of teenagers who use them was too small for researchers to draw meaningful conclusions.
The study is based on data from 2015 to 2018 from the government’s National Survey of Drug Use and Health, an annual survey that tracks substance use and mental health issues among Americans.
The findings could have strong implications for lawmakers, as more states legalize adult marijuana use and the movement to do so at the federal level is gaining momentum. The pressure is likely to intensify to ensure that strong protections are in place for teens.
[ad_2]
Source link