Some alarming numbers were released about teens and marijuana use. A new study shows that the number of teenagers using marijuana regularly has increased nearly 10%.
 
Heavy marijuana use by teenagers is up 80% since 2008, according to a national survey released by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the MetLife Foundation.

Nearly 10% of U.S. teens, about 1.5 million, smoked marijuana heavily, some 20 times in the past month, according to the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, sponsored by MetLife Foundation.

Joyce Chung, a former marijuana user, says she started smoking pot in high school and says it led to ecstasy and even meth. "It's always you want more than what you already have," says Chung.

This relationship between pot and other drugs is noted in the study. The study found that teens who were heavy marijuana users were significantly more likely to use other drugs than teens who did not. Teens who are heavy pot smokers and reported to be 30% more likely to use cocaine, 20% more likely to use Ecstasy, 15% more likely to abuse pain relievers, and 14% more likely to abuse over-the-counter medicines.

Other findings show that the past-month use of marijuana is up 42%, which is about 4 million teens. In 2008, past-month use was 27%. The last time marijuana use was this widespread was back in 1998 when it was also 27%.

The study also found the past-year use of marijuana is up 26%, about 6 million teens, and that lifetime use of marijuana is up 21%, about 8 million teens.

The Partnership's new PSAs are dealing with what they consider a major reason for the increase; a parent's lack of dealing with marijuana as a health issue. The group insists that cuts in federal funding for anti-drug education programs makes this more imperative.

While many people smoke pot for medical reasons, The partnership at drugfree.org insists there should be stricter regulations.