Percent of Students Reporting Use of Marijuana in Past Year, by Grade

1
NIDAs Marijuana Initiative A Progress
Report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nora D. Volkow, M.D. Director
2
Marijuana is the Most Commonly Used Illicit Drug
In the U.S.
NIDA is committed to reducing its
use and to disseminating new findings
on its effects on the brain and body and
the development of promising strategies
for its prevention and treatment to a wide
variety of audiences
3
NIDAs Renewed Emphasis on Supporting Marijuana
Research is Reflected In
NIDAs initiation of three new Requests for
Applications (RFAs) in FY2004 to stimulate
research on marijuana
Consequences of Marijuana on the Developing Brain
(RFA-DA-04-016) Medications Development for
Cannabis-Related Disorders (RFA-DA-04-014) Screeni
ng and Intervention for Youth in Primary Care
Settings (RFA-DA-04-006)
The inclusion in all existing and new NIDA
Program Announcements (PAs) specific requests for
studies on marijuana and/or cannabis when
appropriate
A requirement in applications for recompetition
of our CTN sites to increase their focus on
cannabis-related disorders
A shift in emphasis of our medications
development program to include a concentration
of more efforts on identifying treatments for
marijuana abuse and addiction
4
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For the General Public
http//www.marijuana-info.org
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
We Developed a Dedicated Website on Marijuana
Thats Usage Continues to Grow
300000
200000
100000
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Web page hits in October of each year
5
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For the General Public
We Recently Released Our New Website for Teens!
6
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For the General Public
Publications Focusing on MARIJUANA
Updated March 2003
A Collection of
NIDA NOTES
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
Articles That Address
Published July 2003
Research on Marijuana
7
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For Targeted Audiences Educational System
Teachers and Students
Updated March 2003
8
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For Targeted Audiences Special Populations
9
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For Targeted Audiences Community Providers
10
Highlights of NIDAs Recent Marijuana
Dissemination Efforts
For Targeted Audiences Media
11
Selected Recent Findings From NIDAs Research
Portfolio on Marijuana
12
12th Graders Past Year Marijuana Use
vs.Perceived Risk of Occasional Marijuana Use
Epidemiological Research
Is Helping Us to Better Understand
Factors Contributing to Drug Use
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
'75
'78
'81
'84
'87
'90
'93
'96
'99
'02
Past Year Use
Perceived Risk
Source MTF Study, 2003
13
Epidemiological Research
Is Helping Us to Better Understand
Characteristics of Drug Users
Subjective Ratings
Percent
Graduated College
Household Income Overall Satisfaction with Self Life
General Happiness Level
Source Gruber, AJ et al., Psychological
Medicine, 33, pp. 1415-1422, 2003.
14
Epidemiological Research
The Consequences of Marijuana Use Range From
Physiological and Behavioral Effects to the
Impact of Early Exposure on the Subsequent Use of
Other Abused Drugs
Drug Use Outcomes in Twin Pairs Discordant for
Cannabis Use Before Age 17
ODDS Ratio
Use
Abuse/Dependence
Hallucinogens (Use) Cannabis (Dependence)
Source Lynskey, MT et al., JAMA, 289, pp.
427-433, 2003.
15
Basic Research
Cannabinoid Receptors Are Located in Many
Areas Throughout the Brain and Play An Important
Role In Regulating
Brain Development Memory and Cognition Motivationa
l Systems Reward Appetite Immunological
Function Reproduction Movement
Coordination Pain Regulation Analgesia
16
Basic Research
Selective CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist
(AM1241) Dose-Dependently Inhibits Sensory
Hypersensitivity in Rats
Source Ibrahim, M.M. et al., PNAS, 100(18), pp.
10529-10533, September 2, 2003.
17
Treatment Research
Cannabinoid Antagonists Have Been Shown to
Block Major Triggers of Drug Relapse
Impact of SR141716 on Response to
Cocaine-Related Cues
Cannabinoid Antagonist Blocks Cocaine-Seeking in
Response to Cocaine-Related Cues in a
Dose-Dependent Manner
Cocaine-Seeking Responses (per 120 min)
Source De Vries, T.J., Shaham, Y. et al.,
Nature Medicine,7(10), 2002.
18
Treatment Research Future Plans
NIDA is Currently Concentrating Efforts to
Promote Research on the Development of
Therapeutics for Marijuana Abuse For FY04 and FY05