Adopted at the 119th Annual Conference

San Diego, CA
October 3, 2012

Noting the Link Between Increased Teen Marijuana Use, Increased Driving Death Statistics and Drug Treatment Hospital Admissions
Submitted by: Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee
NDD.011.a12

WHEREAS, according to "The Monitoring the Future Study," conducted by the University of Michigan, marijuana use has been rising steadily among teens over the last three years; in 2009, grades 8, 10, and 12 combined reported that 29 percent of teens had used marijuana. This number rose to 30.4 percent in 2010, and 31.0 percent in 2011; and

WHEREAS, of even greater concern is the increase in the frequency of use by teens. According to "The Monitoring the Future Study," in 2009, grades 8, 10, and 12 combined reported that 13.8 percent of teens had used marijuana once in the past month; however, this number rose to 14.8 percent in 2010, and 15.2 percent in 2011; and

WHEREAS, there is an alarming increase in the number of teens using marijuana every day; for example, according to "The Monitoring the Future Study," among high school seniors, use of marijuana is at a 30-year peak level with 6.6 percent of high school seniors (roughly one in every fifteen high school seniors ) using marijuana on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, drivers under the influence of marijuana have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds; smoking even a small amount of marijuana can almost double the risk of a fatal highway accident; and

WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), one in five teen drivers, or 19 percent, reported driving under the influence of marijuana, compared to 13 percent of teens who reported driving under the influence of alcohol; similarly, the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that according to studies conducted in a number of localities, approximately 4 to 14 percent of drivers who sustained injury or death in traffic accidents tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana; and

WHEREAS, adolescents who smoke marijuana are at enhanced risk for adverse health and psychosocial consequences, including sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, early school dropout, delinquency, legal problems, and lowered educational and occupational aspirations; and

WHEREAS, approximately half of the individuals who enter treatment for marijuana use are under the age of 25 years of age; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association White Paper titled "Non-Medical Marijuana III: Rite of Passage or Russian Roulette," published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, from 1992 to 2006, the rates of reported clinical diagnosis of marijuana abuse and dependence for those under age 18 admitted to treatment increased by 492.1 percent, compared with a 53.7 percent decline in rates of clinical diagnoses for all other substances combined; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) duly assembled at its 119th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, recognizes the alarming increase in marijuana use by teens and its devastating effects and encourages greater awareness about the dangers of marijuana use.