Marijuana Use and Abuse in Psychiatric Outpatients

AbstractEighty consecutive psychiatric outpatients, aged 18 to 30, were systematically evaluated regarding psychiatric diagnosis, marijuana use and abuse, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. Twenty-eight were classified as marijuana abusers. They had an average of eight problems from marijuana use, including health problems, work problems, arrests, fighting, and inability to control marijuana use. Abusers began using marijuana at an earlier age, used marijuana more frequently, and combined marijuana with other drugs or alcohol more frequently than nonabusers. Abusers also had a higher incidence of alcohol abuse and substance abuse. Major depression was also present in a majority of marijuana abusers. Marijuana abuse and abuse of other substances were frequently overlooked in these psychiatric outpatients.