NATIONAL SURVEYS FIND POT SMOKING BY ADULTS RISING

Marijuana Use by Marin Teenagers Raises Concerns

CHICAGO - Habitual marijuana use increased among U.S. adults over the past
decade, particularly among young minorities and baby boomers, government
figures show.

The national study showed prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependence
climbed from 1.2 percent of adults in 1991-92 to 1.5 percent in 2001-02, or
an estimated 3 million adults 18 and over.

That represents an increase of 22 percent, or 800,000 people, according to
data from two nationally representative surveys that each queried more than
40,000 adults.

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, the rate or abuse or dependence remained stable
among whites but surged by about 220 percent among black men and women, to
4.5 percent of that population, and by almost 150 percent among Hispanic
men, to 4.7 percent.

Among all adults ages 45 to 64, the rate increased by 355 percent, to about
0.4 percent of that population.

In Marin, marijuana use is of particular concern when it comes to the
county's youth, the county's top health official said.

Dr. Larry Meredith, director of the Marin County Health and Human Services,
said marijuana use among adults in the county appears to be at a social level.

"It doesn't appear to get them into trouble," he said.

But marijuana use among youth appears to be a bigger issue.

"Based on surveys of high school and middle school students, there is a
higher availability of marijuana in Marin than in other parts of the
state," he said. "The availability is greater than it has ever been."

Marijuana use can blunt brain functions that prompt young people to explore
their world, as well as negatively affect memory, Meredith said.

"It is just about as available as alcohol. It also is more potent and its
effects are stronger," he said.

Thirty-six percent of 11th-graders in Marin use marijuana, compared with 23
in California and 15 percent nationally, according to studies in 2001 and 2002.

The report, published in today's Journal of the American Medical
Association, was led by Dr. Wilson Compton of the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, who said the rise in dependence was probably due at least
partly to increases in the potency of pot over the past decade.

Also, the figures may indicate that baby boomers "bring their bad habits
with them into old age," he said.

The researchers said adults were considered marijuana abusers if repeated
use of the drug hurt their ability to function at work, in school or in
social situations, or created drug-related legal problems.

Drug users were considered dependent if they experienced increased
tolerance of marijuana, used it compulsively and continued using it despite
drug-related physical or psychological problems.

Overall use of the drug - that is, casual use and habitual use - remained
stable at around 4 percent, or more than 6 million adults.

"This study suggests that we need to develop ways to monitor the continued
rise in marijuana abuse and dependence and strengthen existing prevention
and intervention efforts," said Dr. Nora Volkow, the institute's director.
Programs that target young black and Hispanic adults are particularly
needed, she said.

Increases in dependence among young minorities may reflect their growing
assimilation into sectors of white society where marijuana use is more
accepted, Compton said.