Pubdate: Fri, 02 Apr 2021
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
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Author: adrianna rodriguez

TEENS MOST VULNERABLE TO MARIJUANA ADDICTION

Teenagers are more likely than young adults to become addicted to
marijuana or prescription drugs within a year after trying them for
the first time, according to a new study by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse.

The new report, published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA
pediatrics, adds to mounting evidence showing adolescents are more
vulnerable to substance use disorders than young adults, increasing
the need for early screening and drug prevention education, health
experts say.

"We know that young people are more vulnerable to developing substance
use disorders," said Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA director and lead author of
the study analysis. "Though not everybody who uses a drug will develop
addiction, adolescents may develop addiction faster than adults."

Researchers at the NIDA, a part of the National Institutes of Health,
analyzed data from the nationally representative National Surveys on
Drug Use and Health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services from 2015 to 2018.
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