Letter to Teens
Need Treatment?
You can find treatment programs through the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can also call the SAMHSA Treatment Referral hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. Treatment can help you, a friend, or someone you love get back to the person you or they once were.
Did you know that teen marijuana use has dropped dramatically since the late 1990s? So, if you were thinking everyone smokes marijuana, they don’t. Statistics show that about 7 percent, or roughly 1 in 14 teens, report using marijuana in the past month (SAMHSA, 2014). However, many teens do not consider marijuana to be a harmful drug. Some believe marijuana cannot be harmful because it is "natural." But not all natural plants are good for you—take tobacco, for example.
One serious risk is addiction. In 2013, around 4.2 million people 12 and older had a marijuana abuse or addiction problem (SAMHSA, 2014). Marijuana is not as harmless as you may think. Look inside this booklet to find out more.
Our goal is to give you the straight facts so you can make smart choices and be your best self—without drugs. And we hope you will continue the conversation and share this information with your friends, parents, teachers, and others.
Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
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