Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Kate Kelland, Reuters
Page: A10

DAILY POT USE BY TEENS HAS LONG-TERM RISKS

Those who used marijuana daily before age 17 were less likely to 
finish school and more likely to abuse other drugs.

LONDON - Teenagers who use marijuana daily run a higher risk of 
becoming drug-dependent, committing suicide or trying other drugs, 
and they are less likely to succeed at their studies than those who 
avoid it, researchers said yesterday.

The scientists analyzed studies on marijuana to determine its 
long-term health and life effects.

"Our findings are particularly timely, given that several U.S. states 
and countries in Latin America have made moves to decriminalize or 
legalize cannabis, raising the possibility the drug might become more 
accessible to young people," said Richard Mattick, a professor at 
Australia's National Drug and Alcohol Research Center at the 
University of New South Wales, who co-led the study.

Using data from three large and long-running studies, the researchers 
found that people who smoke marijuana daily before the age of 17 are 
more than 60 percent less likely to complete high school or obtain a 
university degree.

The meta-analysis also indicated that daily users of marijuana during 
adolescence are seven times more likely to attempt suicide, have an 
18-timesgreater chance of cannabis-dependence and are eight times 
more likely to use other illicit drugs later.

Recent data show that young people in some countries are starting to 
use marijuana at a younger age.

In the United States, 7 percent of high-school seniors are daily or 
neardaily marijuana users, while in England, 4 percent of 11- to 
15-year-olds report cannabis use in the past month.

Edmund Silins, also of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center, 
said any changes to cannabis legislation should be carefully assessed 
to ensure that they will help reduce adolescent marijuana use and 
prevent its potentially adverse effects.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analyzed data 
on as many as 3,765 participating cannabis users in terms of seven 
developmental outcomes up to the age of 30 years.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom