Survey: Kids using marijuana at an earlier age

By Staff Writer

According to CNN.com, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that there was a 9 percent increase from 2008 to 2009 in kids age 12 or older who use marijuana. In addition, the average age of first-time users fell to 17.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy says that younger use increases the long-term risks of addiction, respiratory illness and cognitive impairment even if a person quits, the news provider reports. The human brain is still developing through the teen years, and marijuana can negatively affect that process.

"We recognize American families are facing many challenges today, but failing to adequately prevent young people from using drugs now can lead to a lifetime of devastating consequences," said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in a press release.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, early experimenters are at a higher risk of experiencing academic problems, substance abuse and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school.