Cannabis
According to the CDC, half of all teens in grades nine through twelve will have tried cannabis at least once.
How to help
Learning that a young person in your life has tried cannabis, or actively uses it, may be frightening. Use the following tools to help:
- Start a conversation to learn why they are using cannabis. There are reports that cannabis helps lower anxiety and stress levels; try to find the root cause of why they started and offer safer alternatives.
- Set boundaries and let them know that continued use will not be tolerated.
- Provide opportunities to build trust and regain confidence in their ability to turn away from cannabis.
- Use positive reinforcement; negative reactions or punishments can jeopardize their progress.
The Impact of Cannabis
Some teens, and even adults, might feel cannabis is not harmful. The brain does not reach full maturity until the early or mid-twenties, however, so for bodies and brains still in development, cannabis can cause serious harm to one’s physical, emotional, mental, and interpersonal growth.
According to the CDC and The National Institute on Drug Abuse, prolonged and excessive cannabis use in youth effects…
Physical Health
- Impaired coordination
- Increased chances of lung cancer and heart attack
- Respiratory issues including difficulty breathing
Relationships
- Loss of connection and trust
- Loss of motivation to create friendships
- Absence from day-to-day activities and life
- Decreased motivation to achieve goals
Emotional & Mental Health
- Lapses in memory or memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Impaired decision-making
- Potential abnormal brain shape and structure volume
- Higher likelihood of mental health disorders
Community Resources:
Your family doctor
Call 2-1-1 for more local resources