A new study has revealed that marijuana Use among American teenagers has declined over the past decade. According to a report by US News, researchers found that as of 2021, only 16% of teens said they were currently using marijuana, down from 23% in 2011. This study was published in the journal Pediatric Reports. The study further stated that a significant decline in current marijuana/weed use was observed across all grades, especially among ninth graders.

Additionally, the percentage of kids who used weed for the first time before the age of 13 has also declined significantly, from 8% in 2011 to about 5% in 2021. The results of the study show that weed use is most prevalent among high school seniors. and juniors, with nearly 1 in 5 reporting regular use, at 22% and 19% respectively.

“Although we saw an overall decline from 2011 to 2021 across all grades, older students reported consistently higher use, especially in the United States,” said senior researcher Panagiota Kitsantas, chair of population health and social medicine at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine. Students from class 12th.

“This suggests that as adolescents progress through high school, influenced by more developed peer networks and increased independence, they may have greater access to marijuana.”

In a news release, Kinsantas said, “This trend highlights the need for targeted interventions for older adolescents, who are at greater risk for regular marijuana use.”

The study also found that girls are now using more weed than boys, a significant change from a decade ago. Researchers found that about 18% of teen girls reported current use of weed in 2021, while only 14% of boys reported the same. This is a change from 2011 when 26% of boys used weed compared to 20% of girls.

Researchers also found that black teens were most likely to have used marijuana, at about 21%, compared to whites at 15%, Hispanic teens at 17%, and Asian teens at 5%.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 88,000 American teenagers collected as part of the federal Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“In the US, the current landscape of marijuana legalization in adults adds a complex layer to the issues of marijuana use among teens,” said Dr. Charles Heinekens, a researcher and professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Florida Atlantic University.

“As more states continue to legalize recreational marijuana, the drug’s accessibility and perceived commonality may increase, especially for adolescents who may view its legal status as a sign of safety or acceptability.”

“Research shows that marijuana legalization among adults may influence teens’ behavior through their perceptions of reduced risk as well as increased availability, both of which may increase teen use,” Heinekens said in a university news release. “may hinder mitigation efforts.”

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