After Legalization, Teens Are More Likely To See A Doctor About Marijuana

After legalization, teens are more likely to see a doctor about marijuana

From 2005 to 2015, the number of adolescents aged 13-21 years old admitted to the emergency room with problems related to the use of marijuana has quadrupled.

US medical statisticians are grappling with the ramifications of legalizing marijuana in some states. In Colorado, hemp was allowed to be sold for recreational purposes in 2014, of course, to people over the age of 21. Then it was believed that the permission of the drug would have practically no effect on adolescents who could not legally buy it, the number of medical visits would remain the same as before. Now it turned out that this is not so. A study presented at a meeting of pediatric academic societies in San Francisco shows that from 2005 to 2015, the number of adolescents aged 13 to 21 years old who were admitted to the emergency room with problems related to marijuana use quadrupled. In absolute terms, this is not much: in 2005, 146 adolescents consulted a doctor, and in 2015 - 639. On the other hand,in 2005 it was about one in a thousand adolescents in its age group; now it is four in a thousand. More than half of those who applied were also taking other substances, alcohol, amphetamines, opiates and cocaine. The number of adolescents requiring psychiatric help rose from 65 in 2005 to 442 in 2015.

At the same time, according to national statistics, the number of adolescents who use soft drugs does not grow, remaining at the level of 7%. Dr. Sam James Vaughn, assistantprofessor at the University of Colorado Anchutz Medical Campus and lead author of the study, believes these statistics may not account for local variations (apparently because not all states in the United States legal marijuana). “At the state level, the impact of legalizing marijuana on minors is just beginning to be studied,” the researcher quoted EurekAlerthttps://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/aaop-evr042617.php. “Our research shows that we need a comprehensive targeted education program and prevention strategy to reduce the significant public health risks associated with drug use among minors. This is especially true for mental health."