Teens with cannabis use disorder facing delays for treatment, study finds

As federal officials consider whether to reclassify marijuana under federal drug law, a new study has found that more American teenagers seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder, known as CUD, are facing longer wait times before receiving care (Source: “More teens with cannabis use disorder are facing treatment delays, study finds,” Ohio Capital Journal, July 17).
 
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed national data from more than 124,000 adolescent admissions to publicly funded substance use treatment facilities between 2012 and 2022. Researchers found that after several years of decline, the share of young people experiencing delays in accessing treatment increased sharply.
 
While overall adolescent cannabis use has leveled off or declined slightly over the past decade, some young people who use cannabis regularly develop CUD that requires treatment. 
 
About 11% of adolescents who use cannabis or marijuana develop CUD within a year, according to the study. With continued use, that risk rises to about 20%. Other research suggests that about 4.7% of adolescents aged 12-17 meet the diagnostic criteria for CUD, a condition in which marijuana use becomes difficult to control and begins interfering with daily life.