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Medical Marijuana Use Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment

Stacy Salomonsen-Sautel, Ph.D., Joseph T. Sakai, M.D., Christian Thurstone, M.D.,Robin Corley, Ph.D., Christian Hopfer, M.D.

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry  Volume 51, Issue 7 , Pages 694-702, July 2012 (published online 28 May 2012)  http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(12)00286-9/abstract

This study analyzed trends in use of diverted medical marijuana among 164 teens (age 14 to 18) treated at a residential rehab program in Colorado.  The article’s abstract reports that “Approximately 74% of the adolescents … reported using diverted medical marijuana a median of 50 times.”  Earlier age of marijuana use, the presence of more abuse and dependence symptoms and more conduct disorder symptoms were also noted among those using diverted medical marijuana.

                                                            Summary prepared by WTR-RI Research Team.

The abstract and article are available at  http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(12)00286-9/abstract