According to statistics by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), research indicates the rate of college students who use marijuana on a daily basis has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The 2014 data identifies the current rate of 5.9% outweighs the 4.3% of daily alcohol users in college settings. As you can see, marijuana abuse is prevalent in young adults and requires drug addiction treatment for heavy users.Despite the endless controversy, it's without debate that daily use is unhealthy and poses many long-term risks. Considering this information, our industry must focus on addressing the rise of daily marijuana users. Otherwise, the troubling opioid epidemic could be supplemented by a marijuana epidemic.
Many would not compare these crises in the same category, however our experience has shown that abuse of any mind and mood altering substance results in lives lost and devastating consequences for society at large. Through research and dedication, treatment facilities, clinicians and medical professionals work towards facilitating a decrease in these statistics. For example, an intensive outpatient program is a great way to combat marijuana abuse.– Colin Tardif, CADC I, CAIReference:Johnson LD, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG, Schulenberg JE, Miech RA. Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2014: Volume 2, College students and adults ages 19-55. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan; 2015.