Daily Marijuana Use Amongst College Students On The Rise
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A new study on college marijuana use is cause for concern. Researchers found daily marijuana use among college students is on the rise, even surpassing cigarette use.
Meghan McCorkell with the dangerous shift.
According to that study out of University of Michigan, 1 in every 17 college students admits to using marijuana almost every day.
As college students go back to school, more may be lighting up a joint instead of a cigarette.
"I know all my friends smoke pot," said Kiana Anspach, college student.
A new study finds six percent of students admit to being heavy marijuana users, versus five percent that smoke or drink heavily.
"I feel like we're at the age where we don't really care, so you just do it to try it," one college student said.
The influences are all around--like Miley Cyrus--who repeatedly referred to pot during her stint hosting the VMAs, even lighting a joint backstage.
"You try to relate to what you see on TV. So, a celebrity says one thing, everybody wants to follow it," said Terrance Diggs, college student.
Researchers say daily marijuana use on campus is at its highest rates in more than two decades. Twenty-one percent of students say they've used in the past month; 34 percent in the past year.
Health experts say while students have gotten the message about cigarettes, they don't yet understand the dangers of marijuana.
"The kids are all saying, 'What's wrong with pot?'" said addiction specialist Mike Gimbel.
Gimbel says more gadgets are helping students hide drugs. He says college kids need to recognize how dangerous the drug can be.
"It soaks into the brain and it clogs your ability to think and make good, fast decisions," said Gimbel.
Something that could ultimately be deadly.
While marijuana use is on the rise, the study finds cigarette use amongst college students is plummeting.
The University of Michigan has been studying campus drug use for more than 20 years.
