A March 2024 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health is shedding light on a troubling trend: a significant increase in visits to children’s hospitals for substance-related issues.
The study’s authors—who include Alexis Ball of Seattle Children’s Hospital and Scott Hadland of MassGeneral Hospital for Children—examined data from the Pediatric Health Information System database, which has records from over 49 children’s hospitals across the United States. The authors analyzed visits from youth aged 12–21 between 2016 and 2021, focusing on cases related to substance use, dependence, and overdoses.
In analyzing the 106,793 visits involving 84,632 kids, the authors discovered a staggering 47.9% increase in substance-related visits to children’s hospitals over a five-year period. “Cannabis accounted for the largest percentage of visits,” the authors wrote. Over half (52.2%) of all substance-related visits involved cannabis, and this number grew the most compared to other visits, by 82.4%.
This trend aligns with other recent research, like the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This survey found that many teens underestimate the risks of using cannabis. Only 35% of 12- to 17-year-olds surveyed thought that smoking marijuana once or twice a week was dangerous. That might reveal why they’re using the drug more.
Marijuana isn’t “just a plant.” Teens need to know that cannabis can have lasting health consequences, especially in developing brains. That’s why authors of the study call for increased investment in programs and resources to address the rise in teen substance use. Raising awareness about the full scope of dangers associated with cannabis is so important to protect the health and well-being of our youth.
To read the full study, visit this page.