Dramatic drop in cannabis use among US teens, finds study

The study, published in the journal Pediatric Reports, reveals that in 2011, 23.1% of adolescents indicated they were current users, but by 2021, this figure had dropped to 15.8%. 

Additionally, the percentage of adolescents trying cannabis for the first time before age 13 also saw a notable decline, from 8.1% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2021.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine conducted a comprehensive study using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey between 2011 and 2021, which surveyed 88,183 adolescents in grades nine through 12. 

In 2021, cannabis use was most prevalent among 12th graders (22.4%), followed by 11th graders (18.7%), with lower usage rates in the earlier grades. 

From 2011 to 2021, all grades experienced a notable decline in current cannabis use, especially among ninth graders. While there was an overall downward trend over the years, there were slight increases in use in 2013 and again in 2019.

Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, PhD, corresponding author and professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, commented: “While we observed an overall decline from 2011 to 2021 across all grades, older students consistently reported higher usage, particularly 12th graders. This suggests that as adolescents advance through high school, they may have greater access to marijuana, influenced by more developed peer networks and increased independence. 

“This trend highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at older adolescents, who are at a greater risk of regular marijuana use.”

The research team focused on the overall time trends in use of cannabis as well as variations by gender, race/ethnicity, and school grade. 

In 2021, girls reported a higher prevalence of current cannabis use (17.8%) than boys (13.6%). This marks a significant change from 2011 when boys were more likely to use cannabis (25.9%) compared to girls (20.1%). 

According to the authors, the convergence of usage rates among genders highlights an evolving dynamic that could reflect broader societal changes in attitudes toward cannabis.

Researchers also found variations among Asian, Hispanic and white adolescents, who experienced some of the steepest declines in current use. 

In 2021, however, Black adolescents reported a notably higher percentage of current cannabis use at 20.5%, compared to their white (14.8%), Hispanic (16.7%), and Asian (5.1%) counterparts. 

“In the US the current landscape of marijuana legalisation in adults adds a complex layer to the issues of adolescent marijuana us,” added co-author of the study, Charles H Hennekens, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine in the departments of medicine and population health and social medicine, and senior academic advisor, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine.

“As more states continue to legalise recreational marijuana, the accessibility and perceived normalcy of the drug may increase, particularly for adolescents who may view its legal status as an indication of safety or acceptability. 

“Research suggests that marijuana legalisation in adults can influence adolescent behaviour through their perceptions of less risk as well as increased availability, both of which may impede efforts to reduce adolescent use.”

However, a study funded by the National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2022, found that legalising cannabis for adult-use did not lead to an increase in consumption among adolescents.

The authors emphasise the importance of interventions like parental communication, supervision and modelling, alongside schools offering effective health education and fostering a positive school climate, to sustain the decline in adolescent cannabis use.