New research that was published in the journal Prevention Science has found that there are more young Americans opting for marijuana over alcohol or cigarettes.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) researchers examined nationally representative survey data from over 275,000 people ages 12 to 21 to uncover this result.
The study, based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, was conducted between 2004 and 2014. It asked questions in regards to marijuana use, tobacco use, alcohol use, and illegal drugs.
The study found that 8% of respondents in the year 2014 reported that marijuana was the first drug they used. In 2004 this number was 4.8%.
“Our findings suggest important targets for public health intervention and prevention of marijuana use, especially among American Indian/Alaska Native and Black youth, who are less likely to have access to treatment or successful treatment outcomes,” said Brian Fairman, a postdoctoral researcher at the NICHD.
“To the degree these trends continue, and greater numbers of youth start with marijuana as their first drug, there may be an increasing need for public interventions and treatment services for marijuana-related problems,” Fairman added.
