Drug Treatment | Marijuana Ups and Downs

In recent years nearly 10% of Americans, age 12 and up, have reported using and abusing marijuana. Although drug treatment is not always sought, nor is there a medication drug treatment for marijuana addiction, it is estimated that more than 4 million of that 10% meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for abuse or dependence addiction. Drug treatment programs designed to manage users from 8th -12th grade are increasing in demand.

Although one of the National Institute on Drug Addiction's study showed there'd been a consistent decline from the mid-90's, the decline has begun to level off. Since 2001, 5.4% of all 12th graders state they are daily users of marijuana. This number has not changed. Long term use can lead to addiction.

In 2008, 7 million Americans classified themselves with a dependence to an illicit drug, and 4 million of that group classified themselves to be dependent on or abusers of marijuana.