MORE TEENS SEEK THERAPY FOR ABUSE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS

The number of teenagers seeking substance abuse treatment rose 49 percent
from 1992 to 2001, the U.S. government says.

Much of the trend has been fueled by marijuana abuse: During that time the
national treatment rate for marijuana/hashish abuse more than doubled among
youths, research shows.

In 1992, 23 percent of treatment admissions among teens were due to
marijuana/hashish abuse. By 2001, that figure had risen to 62 percent, says
the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Marijuana/hashish abuse accounted for 6 percent of all admissions in 1992,
but 15 percent in 2001, according to the federal Treatment Episode Data
Set. During that time, cocaine admissions fell from 18 percent of the total
to 13 percent.

More than half of all treatment admissions - and of the marijuana
admissions - resulted from juvenile court referrals.

In all, five substances - alcohol, opiates including heroin and
prescription drugs, marijuana/hashish, cocaine and stimulants - accounted
for 96 percent of the 2001 admissions.

View the treatment report at http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/teds01/TOC.htm.