The Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Adolescents

3.10.2 Behavioral Problems and Marijuana Use

The severity of behavioral problems is significantly associated with increased likelihood of marijuana use among adolescents (Table 3.5). Adolescents with serious behavioral problems were over four times more likely to report marijuana use than those with low levels of behavioral problems. Past-month marijuana use was reported by 4 percent of adolescents with low levels of behavioral problems, by 8 percent of those with intermediate problem scores, and by 17 percent of those with significantbehavioral problems. Adolescents with serious behavioral problems were significantly more likely to use marijuana than those with less serious behavioral problems. This pattern was observed in the different age groups for both males and females. Marijuana use was highest among older adolescents aged 16 to 17 with serious behavioral problems: 26 percent for males and 21 percent for females. For very young adolescents aged 12 to 13 with serious behavioral problems, the corresponding rates were 6 percent for males and 7 percent for females.

This page was last updated on June 16, 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.