Interest in marijuana treatment programs among teenage smokers and nonsmokers

Sheer, Amy J.; Gorelick, David A.; Collins, Charles C.; Schroeder, Jennifer R.; Heishman, Stephen J.; Leff, Michelle K.; Moolchan, Eric T.

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2009.04.007

« Previous Next »Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 37, Issue 4 , Pages 421-425, December 2009

Interest in marijuana treatment programs among teenage smokers and nonsmokers

Amy J. Sheer, B.S.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Corresponding author. Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Boulevard, suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Tel.: +1 443 631 8004; fax: +1 443 631 8037.
Charles C. Collins, B.S.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
Jennifer R. Schroeder, Ph.D.
- Schroeder Statistical Consulting, Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA
Stephen J. Heishman, Ph.D.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
Michelle K. Leff, M.D.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
Eric T. Moolchan, M.D
- Alkermes, Inc., Office of the Medical Director, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Received 14 April 2009; accepted 28 April 2009. published online 25 June 2009.

Abstract

Little is known about adolescents' interest in marijuana treatment programs. This question was evaluated by telephone interview in a convenience sample of 575 adolescents responding to advertisements for tobacco research studies. Eighty-one percent of respondents endorsed the need for marijuana treatment programs for adolescents. These adolescents were younger and less likely to smoke tobacco, smoke marijuana, or use alcohol than those not endorsing such a need. Among the 192 marijuana smokers, the 58.8% who endorsed the need for marijuana treatment programs took their first puff of marijuana at a younger age than those who did not endorse the need. Those who were willing to participate in a marijuana treatment program were more likely African American and took their first marijuana puff at a younger age than those not interested in treatment. These findings suggest that most adolescent marijuana smokers endorse the need for and are willing to attend marijuana treatment programs.

Keywords: Adolescent, Marijuana, Tobacco, Cessation, Treatment