NEW GROUPS OF POT ABUSERS

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

The prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependency 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 800,000 people, according to data from two
nationally representative surveys that each queried at least 40,000 adults.

Among adults 18 to 29, the rate of 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 Latino 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.

The report, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association
(http://jama.ama-assn.org), was led by Dr. Wilson Compton of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, who said the rise in dependence was probably at
least partly because of 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.

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