The latest data from a biennial survey of youth in Illinois is showing an increase in marijuana usage among youth and a central Illinois mental health professional has some concerns.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Tony Kirkman from the Piatt County Mental Health Center says the fact more youth are admitting to the use of marijuana is concerning for the long-term mental health of these individuals.

For Kirkman, he is focusing on why these teens are using marijuana and he's discovering it is a variety of reasons from simple experimentation to self-medicating reasons.

Based on data from the Illinois Youth Survey, it is likely education is going to have to be increased in informing teens about the dangers of early use of legalized marijuana. For Kirkman, instead of instilling these messages with fear, he hopes they will be delivered rationally and with facts.

Looking down the road, Kirkman is encouraged by the initiatives happening at an education institution level with a focus on an individual's emotional and mental wellness and the things their body is communicating to them.