Some teens smoke marijuana but not tobacco

Lausanne, Switzerland -- Teens using marijuana function better than those also using tobacco but have no more psycho-social problems than abstainers, a Swiss study suggested.

The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found 6 percent of the teens using marijuana alone were more likely to be male, play sports, live with both parents and have good grades.

Dr. J. C. Saris and colleagues at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, analyzed data on 5,263 students aged 16 to 20 years from a 2002 national survey. Of these, 455 smoked marijuana only, 1,703 smoked marijuana and tobacco and 3,105 abstained from both substances..

"The gateway theory hypothesizes that the use of legal drugs -- tobacco and alcohol -- is the previous step to cannabis consumption," the study authors said in a statement. "However, recent research also indicates that cannabis use may precede or be simultaneous to tobacco use and that, in fact, its use may reinforce cigarette smoking or lead to nicotine addiction independently of smoking status."

While teens smoking both marijuana and tobacco may have more psycho-social problems and be worthy targets for preventive intervention, the study authors advised, those who smoke marijuana only should also be monitored and counseled and their situation shouldn't be trivialized.

© 2007 United Press International.