Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Figure 1. Percentages of Lifetime Marijuana Use Figure 2. Percentages of Lifetime Marijuana Users
among Adults Aged 18 or Older, by Gender and Age Currently Aged 18 or Older by Age at First Marijuana
Group: 2002 and 2003 Use: 2002 and 2003
Males Females
2.1%
70% 16.0%
62.4
60% 56.7 56.1
53.8
51.0
50% 47.1
45.2%
40%
29.9
30%
20% 18.1
36.7%
10%
the K-6 distress questions.6,7 This The percentage of lifetime to report that they first used
report focuses on the association marijuana use among persons marijuana before age 12 than
between age at first use of mari- aged 18 or older was higher for lifetime marijuana users aged 35
juana and past year SMI. All of males than for females in each to 49 (1.9 percent) and lifetime
the findings presented in this age group (Figure 1). marijuana users aged 50 or older
report are annual averages based (0.3 percent).
on the combined data from the
2002 and 2003 NSDUH. Age at First Use of
Marijuana Past Year Serious
Mental Illness
Lifetime Marijuana Among persons aged 18 or older
who reported lifetime marijuana In 2002 and 2003, 8.8 percent of
Use use, almost one half (45.2 per- adults aged 18 or older (an esti-
In 2002 and 2003, 42.9 percent cent) reported that they first used mated 18.5 million persons) were
of persons aged 18 or older (an marijuana at age 18 or older. classified as having SMI in the
estimated 90.8 million persons) Almost 53 percent reported that past year. Among adults aged 18
had used marijuana at least once they first used marijuana between or older, past year SMI varied by
in their lifetime. Among adults ages 12 and 17, and about 2 per- gender: 11.0 percent of females
aged 18 or older, lifetime mari- cent reported that they first used had SMI compared with 6.4 per-
juana use varied by gender: 48.4 marijuana before age 12 (Figure 2). cent of males. Adults aged 18 to
percent of males reported lifetime Males aged 18 or older (2.9 per- 25 had the highest prevalence of
use, while 37.9 percent of females cent) were more than twice as past year SMI (13.6 percent),
reported lifetime use. Approx- likely as females (1.1 percent) to while adults aged 50 or older had
imately 58.0 percent of adults report that they first used mari- the lowest prevalence of past year
aged 35 to 49 reported having juana before age 12. Lifetime SMI (5.4 percent). In each age
used marijuana in their lifetime, marijuana users currently aged 18 group, the prevalence of past year
while 22.5 percent of adults aged to 25 and 26 to 34 (3.2 percent SMI was higher among females
50 or older reported having used for each group) were more likely than among males (Figure 3).
marijuana in their lifetime.
May 3, 2005 NSDUH REPORT: AGE AT FIRST USE OF MARIJUANA AND PASTYEAR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
Figure 3. Prevalence of Past Year SMI among Adults Figure 4. Prevalence of Past Year SMI among
Aged 18 or Older, by Gender and Age Group: 2002 Lifetime Marijuana Users Aged 18 or Older, by Age at
and 2003 First Marijuana Use: 2002 and 2003
Males Females
20% 25%
16.8 21.0
20%
15% 17.4
13.5
12.7
15%
10.3 12.2
10% 10.5
10%
7.2
6.7 6.6
5% 4.0 5%
0%
First Use First Use First Use First Use
0% Before at Ages at Ages at or After
18 to 25 26 to 34 35 to 49 50 or Older Age 12 12 to 14 15 to 17 Age 18
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health International in Research Triangle Park, North National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 03-
(NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of 3836, NSDUH Series H-22). Rockville, MD:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Research Triangle Institute.) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA). Prior to 2002, this Administration.
Information and data for this issue are based on
survey was called the National Household
the following publications and statistics: Also available online: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov
Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The 2002 and
2003 data used in this report are based on Office of Applied Studies. (2004). Results from the Because of improvements and modifications to
information obtained from 89,600 persons aged 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: the 2002 NSDUH, estimates from the 2002 and
18 or older. The survey collects data by National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 04- 2003 surveys should not be compared with
administering questionnaires to a representative 3964, NSDUH Series H-25). Rockville, MD: estimates from the 2001 or earlier versions of the
sample of the population through face-to-face Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services survey to examine changes over time.
interviews at their place of residence. Administration. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Office of Applied Studies. (2003). Results from the Office of Applied Studies
Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: www.samhsa.gov