Emerging Drugs
Get more information on K2/Spice, Salvia and Bath Salts. NIDA will update this page with the latest research findings on these and other emerging drugs as they develop.
Commonly Abused Drugs
Brief Description
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. It is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant.
Street Names
Pot, ganga, weed, grass, 420
Effects
Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
Statistics and Trends
In 2009, 28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site).
Lastest Science
Related Publications
Related NIDA Notes Articles
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Adolescent Smoking and Drinking at Historic Lows (July 2012)
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Program Helps Troubled Boys Reduce Substance Abuse (December 2011)
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Teenage Marijuana Use Is on the Rise (March 2011)
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Brain Responds to Marijuana Cues in Familiar Manner (March 2011)
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Physical Activity May Prevent Substance Abuse (March 2011)
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Marijuana Linked With Testicular Cancer (December 2010)
Related News Releases
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NIDA creates easy-to-read website on drug abuse (February 2012)
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Cigarette and alcohol use at historic low among teens (December 2011)
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Teen marijuana use increases, especially among eighth-graders (December 2010)
Related Resources
- Marijuana’s Lasting Effects on the Brain, (Message from the NIDA Director, September 2012)
- NIDA for Teens: Marijuana
Other Resources
- MEDLINEplus Health Information on Drug Abuse - National Library of Medicine, NIH
- www.abovetheinfluence.com - Office of National Drug Control Policy
- healthfinder.gov - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.
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Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.