3.10.1 Emotional Problems and Marijuana Use

The severity of emotional problems is significantly associated with increased likelihood of marijuana use among adolescents (Table 3.5). Adolescents with more serious emotional problems were twice as likely to report marijuana use as were those with low levels of emotional problems. Past-month marijuana use was reported by 6 percent of adolescents with low emotional problem scores, by 8 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 12 percent of those with serious emotional problems. A consistent pattern was observed in the different age groups for males and females. Adolescents with high scores for emotional problems had higher rates of marijuana use than those with low scores.

Marijuana use is highest among older adolescents aged 16 to 17 with serious emotional problems: 21 percent for males and 15 percent for females. For very young adolescents aged 12 to 13 with serious emotional problems, the corresponding rates are 3 percent for males and 6 percent for females.

This page was last updated on August 05, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.