Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2013
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/625HdBMl
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Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Donna Leinwand Leger

MORE AMERICANS WARM UP TO WEED

Study: About 9.2% Are Using Illicit Drugs

As the nation takes a softer stance on marijuana, more Americans are 
using the drug, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found.

The nationwide survey made public Wednesday found that 7.3% of 
Americans 12 or older regularly used marijuana in 2012, up from 7% in 
2011. Marijuana use has increased steadily over five years. In 2007, 
the survey found that 5.8% of Americans 12 or older used marijuana.

The report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) surveys 70,000 people 12 and older 
nationwide. It is the most comprehensive look at U.S. drug and alcohol use.

Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice 
Department would not challenge states that have legalized use of 
small amounts of marijuana or medical marijuana if the states have 
strict measures to keep the drugs away from minors and have taken 
steps to regulate the drugs.

Two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized marijuana, and 20 
states have approved marijuana for medical use. Until Holder's 
announcement Thursday, marijuana users in those states could have 
faced federal prosecution even if they adhered to local laws and regulations.

Nearly 24 million Americans, about 9.2% of the population, use 
illicit drugs, the survey found. That includes marijuana, cocaine, 
heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and nonmedical use of painkillers, 
tranquilizers and stimulants. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug.

Although the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioids such 
as oxycodone, is stable or dropping, heroin use is on the rise, the 
survey found. In 2012, 669,000 people reported using heroin, up from 
620,000 people in 2011. The number of heroin users has jumped 80% 
since 2007, when 373,000 people reported using heroin.

"These findings show that while we have made progress in preventing 
some aspects of substance abuse, we must redouble our efforts to 
reduce and eliminate all forms of it throughout our nation," SAMHSA 
Administrator Pamela Hyde said. "These statistics represent real 
people, families and communities dealing with the devastating 
consequences of abuse and addiction."

Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy, said the Obama administration is committed to treating drug 
abuse as a public health issue, not a criminal justice problem. But 
he said the nation's prevention, treatment and recovery service must 
improve and expand to reduce drug abuse.

"Among the 22 million Americans who need treatment for substance use 
disorders, only about 2 million - one in 10 - receive it at a 
specialty facility," Kerlikowske said. "Yet, we know treatment works, 
and that is why we are working so aggressively to expand access to treatment."

Kerlikowske called the Affordable Care Act's requirement that 
insurance companies cover drug treatment "the most significant piece 
of drug-policy reform in generations" that will open addiction 
treatment to millions of Americans.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom