m. fe caces, ph. d. statistician/demographer office of national drug control policy executive office...

M. Fe Caces, Ph. D.Statistician/Demographer

Office of National Drug Control PolicyExecutive Office of the President

Washington, DC

June 2003

Treatment Demand Indicators:

Profile of Cannabis Users

15.9 million were current (past month) users of an illicit drug in 2001.

0.1

0.3

0.5

0.6

0.8

0.4

1.7

7.0

12.1

15.9

0 5 10 15 20

Heroin

LSD

Inhalants

Meth

Ecstasy

Crack

Cocaine

Any Illicit Drug

Marijuana

Any Illicit Drug

(other than marijuana)

(incl. crack)

Past Month Users (in Millions)

Source: SAMHSA, 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

9/2002

20%

56%

25%

Marijuana only

Marijuana and some other

drug

Only a drug other than marijuana

Among current drug users, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug.

Total Current Users: 15.9 millionSource: SAMHSA, 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

9/2002

Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance of Abuse (Ages 12 and

Older)

Cocaine14%

Marijuana15%

Opiates17%

Stimulants5%

Alcohol w/drug19%

Other/None4%

Alcohol only26%

2/2003 SOURCE: SAMHSA, Treatment Episode Data Set, 2000

Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance of Abuse (Ages 12 - 17)

Alcohol w/ drug17%

Stimulants3%

Marijuana62%

Opiates1%

Cocaine2%

Other/ None7%

Alcohol only8%

SOURCE: SAMHSA, Treatment Episode Data Set, 20002/2003

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

Number of Marijuana Initiates (1,000s)

The annual number of new marijuana users peaked in the 1970s and rose again in the 1990s.

Source: SAMHSA, 1999 and 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Average age at first use

Average age at first use of marijuana (initiation) has been declining since 1965.


1.5

4.4

9.3

12.7

15.114.2

11.3

9.0

5.0

4.0

2.71.8

1.3 1.2 1.0

5.5

0

4

8

12

16

Distribution of Marijuana Initiates, By Age at First Use

Percent of Initiates (1998 and 1999)


7.8

6.9 6.7

7.5 7.5

11.612.0

8.1

8.9

9.8

7.2

6.0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Distribution of Month of First Use Among Persons Initiating Marijuana Use Before Age 18

Percent of Initiates


6.2

2.2 2.01.3

0.20

2

4

6

8

14 oryounger

15-17 18-20 21 or older Neverused

marijuana

Among adults aged 26 or older, drug dependence or abuse is more likely among those who initiated marijuana use at

the youngest ages.

Percent with Illicit Drug Dependence or Abuse (Past Year)


0.00

3.00

6.00

9.00

12.00

15.00

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1089

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1005

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Average THC percentage (samples confiscated by law enforcement agencies)

The average THC concentrations found in tested cannabis samples rose substantially

since 1980.

Source: ElSohly, et al, Journal of Forensic Sciences 45(1):24-27(2000); [+ update].4/2003

Sinsemilla

Marijuana

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Cocaine Heroin Marijuana

Since 1990 marijuana ED mentions have been rising. In 2001 they exceeded the number of heroin mentions.

Number of Drug Emergency Mentions

Source: SAMHSA, Drug Abuse Warning Network.

NOTE: Data prior to 1994 may not be comparable to 1994 through 2001.

1/2003

Referral source for treatment admissions for marijuana

56.4

16.7

6.8

20.1

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Marijuana

Criminal justice Individual Alc./ Drug or health care provider Other


Referral source for treatment admissions, by primary

substance

56.445.0

26.712.4

16.727.3

35.8 64.1

6.8 5.716.6

20.1 20.410.9

12.722.0

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Marijuana Methamphetamines Smoked Cocaine Heroin

Criminal justice Individual Alc./ Drug or health care provider Other


61.5

22.8

8.4

3.43.8

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Marijuana

None 1 2 3 4 or more

Number of prior treatment episodes, primary substance = marijuana


The majority of treatment episodes with marijuana as the primary substance are first-

time episodes.

61.553.5

36.7

22.1

22.8

25.0

23.6

20.8

8.411

14.8

3.4

14.9

4.78.9 10.1

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Marijuana Methamphetamines Smoked Cocaine Heroin

None 1 2 3

Number of prior treatment episodes, by primary substance


In contrast, cocaine and heroin admissions are largely repeat

treatment episodes.

Summary

Evidence of change over time in the nature of marijuana, its use, and the demand for treatment

Treatment demand for marijuana as the primary drug is largely not self-initiated

Treatment demand for marijuana as the primary drug is typically a first-time treatment episode

m. fe caces, ph. d. statistician/demographer office of national drug control policy executive office...

Documents